By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Pacific Lutheran University built a 2-0 lead in the first half on its way to a 4-2 victory over Willamette University, in a Northwest Conference women's soccer game on Saturday, Nov. 3 at Sparks Field. Gena Main (Jr., F, San Francisco, CA/Gateway HS/Bryn Mawr College) and Lacey Jones (So., F, Portland, OR/David Douglas HS) each scored a goal for Willamette.
The Lutes improved to 13-3-4 on the season and clinched at least a tie for the NWC Championship at 12-2-2 (38 points). University of Puget Sound, 11-2-2 (35 points) in the NWC, can tie the Lutes for first place if the Loggers defeat Linfield College in their final regular season game on Sunday, Nov. 4. Willamette fell to 11-4-4 overall and to 7-4-4 (25 points) in the NWC with the loss. The Bearcats will complete the season with a game at Pacific University on Sunday at 12 p.m. (PST).
Pacific Lutheran took a 1-0 advantage just 6:22 into the game when a penalty kick was awarded for a foul inside the penalty area. Brianna Hunting converted the penalty kick.
The lead reached 2-0 for the Lutes at 24:40 on an unassisted goal by Savannah Brown. WU goalkeeper Kristen Barclay (Jr., GK, Kenmore, WA/Cedar Park Christian School) attempted to stop an attack near the top of the box, but the ball deflected to Brown, who shot from 16 yards into an empty net.
PLU's margin remained the same until Liz Griffith scored for the Lutes at 52:42. Griffith sent the ball into the upper left corner of the net on a direct free kick from 19 yards out. The well-struck ball gave PLU a 3-0 lead.
Willamette responded quickly, with Main scoring at 55:34 to cut the margin to 3-1. On the play, Main beat goalkeeper Natalie Robinson to the ball near the end line and to the right of the goal. Main then scored on a short angle shot. It was her eighth goal of the season, tying her for second in the NWC.
Just over a minute later, Grifith earned her second goal of the day for PLU. Her shot at 56:54 was from 16 yards out on the right side. It was Griffith's sevent goal of the year and it put PLU up 4-1. Willamette added the game's final goal at 64:34 on a 5-yard header by Jones that was assisted by Julia Fecteau (Fr., F, Bend, OR/Bend HS).
Pacific Lutheran attained a 15-10 advantage in total shots and a 10-4 edge in shots on goal. Barclay earned four saves in nearly 84 minutes of playing time after subbing out for about six minutes with a minor injury. Robinson finished with two saves for the Lutes.
Prior to the game, Willamette honored the five seniors on the team. They are Karmen Chavez-Sam (Sr., D, Eastvale, CA/Eleanor Roosevelt HS), Rachel Fischer (Sr., M, Anchorage, AK/East Anchorage HS), Amanda Fong (Sr., F, Kensington, CA/El Cerrito HS), Kate Matthews (Sr., M, Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS), and Crystal Zamora (Sr., M, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn Academy). All five have contributed to Willamette's 24-8-7 record (.705) since the start of the 2017 season.
The Bearcats will complete the 2018 season on Sunday, Nov. 4 at Pacific University. Game time is set for 12 p.m. (PST).
Big Moment of the Game for Willamette
The first goal of the game for the Bearcats was scored
by Gena Main at 55:34. She earned the goal on a shot
from a narrow angle. It was the eighth goal of the year
for the transfer from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania.
Main is now tied for second in the NWC in goals scored.