By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications, (503) 370-6110
WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Willamette University and Whitman College scored goals just 28 seconds apart in the first half for the game's only goals, as the Bearcats and the Blues played to a 1-1 tie in two overtimes during Northwest Conference women's soccer acton on Sunday, Oct. 28. Julia Fecteau (Fr., F, Bend, OR/Bend HS) provided Willamette with a 1-0 lead when she scored her first goal of the season at 35:33. Dani Espinoza of Whitman tied the score less than one half-minute later with her first goal of the year at 36:01.
Willamette concluded the game with an 11-3-4 overall record, including 7-3-4 (25 points) in the Northwest Conference. Whitman went to 4-12-2 overall and to 4-9-1 (13 points) in the NWC.
The Bearcats outshot the Whitman 27-11 in total shots and 18-6 in shots on goal. Bryanna Schreiber, who played all 110 minutes in goal for the Blues, registered 17 saves, including five in overtime. Goalkeeper Kristen Barclay of Willamette also played all 110 minutes and was credited with five saves, two in overtime.
Fecteau scored on a rebound for Willamette's goal after Schreiber made one of her eight first-half saves. WU's initial shot was taken by Sydney Wilson (Fr., M, Olympia, WA/Capital HS). Whitman responded quickly, with Espinoza attacking on the left side and shooting into the right corner of the goal.
Willamette held a 13-4 shooting advantage at halftime. Schreiber's collection of saves at the break included stops on attempts by Emma Blackburn (Fr., F, Los Altos, CA/Saint Francis HS) late in the half at 39:03 and 40:38.
Barclay registered a save for Willamette early in the second half on a shot by Emily Rigsby at 46:29. During the final five minutes of regulation, Willamette had three shots on goal and Whitman placed one wide of the net. Shanna Keil (Jr., F, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS) took shots for the Bearcats at 85:21 and 87:40, but Schreiber earned a save both times. Lacey Jones (So., F, Portland, OR/David Douglas HS) missed high with a header at 88:10. Pagan Hetherington shot wide right at 88:35.
Jones provided Willamette with two shots in the first three minutes of the first overtime, with one shot going high and the other leading to a save by Schreiber. A bit more than a minute later at 94:48, Schreiber was called on again to save a shot by Keil. Rachael Moulton (Jr., D, Seattle, WA/Shorecrest HS) of WU shot wide at 96:45. Camille Marshall earned a shot at 98:17 that was saved by Barclay.
The goalies were active again in the second overtime with a total of five saves, including four in the last four minutes. Schreiber made the first three saves, stopping attempts by Paige Murray at 106:33, Fecteau at 108:12 and Isabel Duxbury (So., D, Seattle, WA/University Prep) on a header at 108:42 following a corner kick. The final shot was taken by Hetherington of Whitman and saved by Barclay.
Keil led all players with six total shots and five shots on goal. Jones took five total shots. Espinoza topped Whitman with four shots, including two shots on goal.
Willamette is scheduled to host Pacific Lutheran University on Saturday, Nov. 3 at Sparks Field. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. (PDT).
Big Moment of the Game for Willamette
In a 1-1 tie, the goal scored by each team is a pretty
big event. The goal for Willamette against Whitman on
Sunday was no different, as Julia Fecteau provided the
Bearcats with a 1-0 lead on her rebound shot at 35:33.
Whitman goalie Bryanna Schreiber earned 17 saves for
the game, but she was unable to stop the shot. It was
Fecteau's first goal as a freshman for the Bearcats.