By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University and University of Puget Sound combined to take 43 shots in their game on Sunday, Sept. 29, but each team received strong play from its goalkeeper and defenders, as the Bearcats and the Loggers settled for a 0-0 tie in two overtimes at Sparks Field. The tie left Willamette at 4-3-1 overall, 3-0-1 in the Northwest Conference, while Puget Sound ended the game at 5-2-1 overall, 3-0-1 in the NWC. The teams are tied for second in the NWC standings, behind Pacific Lutheran University, which is 4-0 in the conference.
The Bearcats took 25 total shots and the Loggers amassed 18 shots. Many of the shots by both teams were off-target or posed little threat to the opposing goalie. However, Willamette gained an 11-7 edge in shots on target, and both goalkeepers had to make several key saves. Defenders also blocked shots or deflected attempts near the goal line.
In the end, both teams worked hard enough on defense to stop the top attacks from the other team.
"It was an excellent team effort today. Every line was firing on al cylinders. We attacked together, we defended together and transitioned well. That was the best 110 minutes we've played this season. I'm very proud of our team."
— Willamette Head Coach Hillary Arthur
For the Bearcats, Kristen Barclay (Sr., GK, Kenmore, WA/Cedar Park Christian School) registered six saves in the nets while earning a complete-game shutout. At one point, Barclay made two point-blank saves very near the goal line. On another, she stopped a quality shot about three yards away from the goal. As Barclay's deflection went closer to the net, a Puget Sound player took a shot toward the goal from just a yard way, but a Willamette defender saved the shot on the goal line to end the threat.
Barclay has earned 16 solo shutouts in her career to go along with two shared shutouts. She holds a 0.94 goals against average this season and has a 0.85 career GAA.
Puget Sound goalie Chaylea Tome earned 11 saves for the Loggers. Tome stopped a number of strong shots by the Bearcats, and helped the Loggers get through one stretch in the second half when Wu took five shots in just over six minutes between 66:49 and 73:02. Tome stopped two of the five shots, while defenders blocked two shots and a shot by Gena Main (Sr., F, San Francisco, CA/Gateway HS/Bryn Mawr College) hit the post.
Each team created three shots during the two 10-minutes overtime periods. Willamette had four corner kicks in the first overtime, but the kicks didn't lead to any top chances to score. The second corner led to a header by Hannah Deighton (Sr., D, Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Polytechnic HS), but it was a difficult shot that went wide right. In the second overtime, each goalie recorded one relatively routine save. Barclay stopped a shot by Radhika Webster Shultz at 105:03. Tome saved a shot by WU's Aoi Sawanobori (So., M, Kofu, Japan/TIUA) with just 18 seconds left at 109:42.
WU was called for 12 fouls, with only five fouls in the second half and overtimes. Puget Sound committed 11 fouls, including nine fouls in the second half. Willamette held an 8-5 overall advantage in corner kicks.
Top shooters were Emma Blackburn (So., F, Los Altos, CA/Saint Francis HS) and Clara Mattison (Fy., M, Burlington, WA/Burlington Edison HS) for Willamette and Gabbie Berg of Puget Sound. Berg led all players with seven shots. Blackburn blasted six shots and Mattison produced five shots.
Up next for the Bearcats is a mid-week game on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at Sparks Field against Lewis & Clark College. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. (PDT).