By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
TACOMA, Wash. -- Gabbie Berg scored both goals for University of Puget Sound, including the game-winner at 73:19, to lead the Loggers to a 2-1 victory over Willamette University in a Northwest Conference women's soccer game on Saturday, Oct. 20. The win sent the Loggers into first place in the NWC standings at 8-1-2 (26 points). Willamette dropped into third place at 7-1-3 (24 points). Pacific Lutheran University is second in the NWC at 8-2-1 (25 points).
For the season, Puget Sound is 9-4-2 and Willamette is 11-1-3. The Bearcats entered the game ranked #4 in the West Region of NCAA Division III by the United Soccer Coaches. Puget Sound was ranked #6 in the West Region.
Willamette took a 1-0 lead when Fionn Fortune (Jr., M/F, Alexandria, VA/St. Stephen's & St. Agnes/Hamilton Coll.) scored just 49 seconds into the game. Fortune received a throw-in from Rachael Moulton (Jr., D, Seattle, WA/Shorecrest HS) and shot past goalkeeper Jamie Lange, sending the ball into the left side of the goal.
The Loggers tied the game at 1-1 at 11:40 after a foul by Willamette in the penalty area led to a penalty kick. Berg scored on the penalty shot. Each team had nine shots at halftime with the Bearcats holding a 6-5 lead in shots on goal.
Berg registered the go-ahead goal for the Loggers on a shot into the left side netting. She was assisted on the play by CeAnn Romaneggi.
With 16:41 left in the game, the Bearcats had a couple of chances to equalize. Moulton earned a shot at 80:19 that was saved by Lange. Jenae Arnold (Jr., M, Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap HS) added a shot at 82:55 that also was saved by Lange.
Although three goals were score, both goalies provided quality play in the nets. Lange recorded eight saves for Puget Sound, while Kristen Barclay (Jr., GK, Kenmore, WA/Cedar Park Christian School) achieved seven saves for the Bearcats.For the game, Puget Sound held a 14-12 margin in total shots, as each team registered nine shots on goal.
Berg took four total shots for the Loggers. Moulton finished with four shots for the Bearcats, including three shots on goal. Shanna Keil (Jr., F, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS) of WU created three shots and had two shots on goal. Arnold and Fortune each placed two shots on target.
Willamette will take on George Fox University on Sunday, Oct. 21 in Newberg, Oregon. Game time is scheduled for 12 p.m. (PDT).
Big Moment of the Game for Willamette
Early in the second half Willamette goalkeeper Kirsten Barclay
registered two saves in 24 seconds. She stopped a shot by
Tess Carden at 46:43 and rejected a shot by Lura Morton at
50:07. Barclay took her first loss of the year in goal, but is still
a solid 11-1-3 on the season. She has attained a 0.56 goals
against average and has earned 48 saves for the Bearcats.