By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Willamette University and Warner Pacific College played a scoreless women's soccer game for more than 50 minutes on Monday, Sept. 4, before Lacey Jones (Fr., F, Portland, OR/David Douglas HS) and Alli Young (Fr., F, Corvallis, OR/Crescent Valley HS) scored goals to send the Bearcats past the Knights, 2-0. Willamette upped its record to 2-0 on the season, while Warner Pacific dropped to 1-2.

The Bearcats compete in NCAA Division III and the Northwest Conference. Warner Pacific is a member of the NAIA and the Cascade Collegiate Conference.

Jones scored at 55:09 to give the Bearcats a 1-0 lead. Young provided the second goal at 80:08. It was the first career goal for both players. Jones and Young are freshman forwards this season.

"Having two freshmen (Lacey and Alli) score is pretty special, not to mention they're roommates," Willamette Head Coach Hillary Arthur said.

The goal by Jones began with a crossing pass by Karmen Chavez-Sam (Jr., D, Eastvale, CA/Eleanor Roosevelt HS) from the left side of the field. Jones provided a one-touch finish into the net.

Jenae Arnold (So., M, Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap HS) of WU took a shot about four minutes later that was saved by WPC goalkeeper Zoey Dahme. Fifteen seconds afterward, Jones had a shot that went high.

In between the score by Jones and the clincher from Young, the Knights took two shots, including one shot on goal. Claudia Flores of Warner Pacific sent a shot wide right at 66:56. Kayla Currin tried to score at 70:45, but WU goalie Kahiau Freitas (Fr., GK, Kaneohe, HI/Kamehameha Schools Kapalama) registered a save.

Young's goal was unassisted. She received the ball after a deflection in the penalty area and shot from 15 yards. Dahme was unable to make a save.

Although neither team scored in the first half, the Bearcats and the Knights combined for 11 total shots and seven shots on goal over the first 45 minutes. Willamette blasted six shots at the net in the first half with five of the shots finishing on target. Dahme answered with five saves for Warner Pacific. The Knights earned five shots in the first half with two shots on goal. Kristen Barclay (So., GK, Kenmore, WA/Cedar Park Christian School), who played the first 45 minutes for WU, recorded two saves.

For the match, Willamette achieved an 11-8 edge in total shots and an 8-4 margin in shots on goal. In addition to Barclay's two saves in the first half, the Bearcats also received two saves from Freitas in the first 41 minutes of the second half. Grasiela Quevedo-Ramos (Fr., GK, Salem, OR/West Salem HS) played the final four minutes in goal for WU.

"It was a high paced, intense game and we responded well to the pressure," Arthur commented. "It was an outstanding team performance tonight. Everyone who was healthy contributed and made a positive impact on the outcome of the game."

The Bearcats are set to play two games next weekend at the University of Texas-Dallas Challenge Cup. Willamette will take on Concordia University-Chicago (Ill.) on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. (CDT)/5 p.m. (PDT). On Sunday, Sept. 10, the Bearcats will meet UT-Dallas at 7 p.m. (CDT)/5 p.m. (PDT).