By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Jenae Arnold (Jr., M, Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap HS) of Willamette University scored the game's only goal on a penalty kick just 18 seconds before the end of the second overtime, to send the Bearcat to a 1-0 win over Lewis & Clark College in a Northwest Conference game. If the final 18 seconds had expired without a goal, the game would have ended in a tie.
Arnold's successful penalty kick at 109:42, improved Willamette to 5-0-1 on the season, 1-0-1 in the NWC. Lewis & Clark slipped to 2-3-1 overall, 0-2 in the NWC. The game-winning penalty kick was the only shot by either team during the second overtime after Willamette gained a 4-1 edge in shots in the first overtime. The Bearcats outshot L&C 17-12 overall and 10-3 in shots on goal.
"With this being our second straight game going into overtime, I think we showed great perseverance and had a relentless work ethic to get the win today," Willamette Head Coach Hillary Arthur said. "That being said, we need to raise our game and finish the opportunities we create. I'm very proud of our team and how we responded in the second half and continued to improve throughout the match."
Lewis & Clark held a 5-4 edge in shots when the first half ended in a 0-0 tie. During the half, Shanna Keil (Jr., F, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS) took two shots for Willamette and Anna Sauceda had two shots for the Pioneers.
In the second half, Willamette gained an 8-6 advantage in shots, including 6-1 in shots on goal. Even so, L&C had a couple of chances to score, as shots by Giana Losson hit the crossbar at 56:52 and 67:19. WU otushot the Pioneers 4-1 in the final 11 minutes of regulation, including a strike by Annie Strom (Jr., D, Mount Vernon, WA/Mount Vernon HS) with 34 seconds left that was saved by L&C goalkeeper Megan Sawyer.
Willamette kept the momentum in the first overtime with another 4-1 margin in shots. A shot by Julia Fecteau (Fr., F, Bend, OR/Bend HS) was blocked at 91:26. Willamette goalie Kristen Barclay (Jr., GK, Kenmore, WA/Cedar Park Christian School) saved a shot by Becca McCullough of L&C at 96:01. A bit later at 98:31, a shot by Sydney Wilson (Fr., M, Olympia, WA/Capital HS) of WU was blocked, and another shot by Fecteau was blocked at 99:04. Following the rebound of Fecteau's shot, Willamette had another chance, but a shot by Caroline Adams (So., M/F, Snohomish, WA/Archbishop Murphy HS) was saved by Sawyer at 99:11.
Most of the second overtime went by without a shot by either team. The only shot was the penalty kick by Arnold at 109:42 following a foul by L&C inside the penalty area. Arnold scored on the kick, setting off a celebration by the Bearcats.
Sawyer registered nine saves for the Pioneers. Barclay provided the Bearcats with three saves.
Willamette, which tied Linfield College 2-2 in two overtimes on Wednesday, Sept. 12, will be back in action on Saturday, Sept. 22 at Sparks Field. Game time against University of Puget Sound is scheduled for 12 p.m. (PDT).