By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications, (503) 370-6110
SALEM, Ore. -- Shanna Keil (Sr., F, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS) of Willamette University scored her fifth goal of the season, giving her 21 goals in her career, but Pacific Lutheran University defeated the Bearcats, 4-1, at Sparks Field on Sunday, Oct. 6. The Lutes recorded the game's first two goals in a 51-second span less than 11 minutes into the game. PLU added another goal before Keil scored to cut the Lutes' advantage to 3-1 at halftime. Meghan Michels scored the final goal for PLU, and finished the game with two goals and two assists.
Pacific Lutheran upped its record to 8-1-1 on the season, while remaining undefeated in the Northwest Conference at 6-0-0. Willamette slipped to 5-4-1 overall, 4-1-1 in the NWC (13 points). The Bearcats are third in the NWC women's soccer standings behind PLU (18 points) and the University of Puget Sound (5-0-1, 16 points).
Leah Magee of PLU scored the game's first goal at 10:01 on a shot from 12 yards into the lower left corner of the net. The goal was set up by a cross by Michels from the right side near the end line. Michels also assisted on the Lutes' second goal, which Tasha Tennyson recorded less than a minute later at 10:52. Tennyson received the a long through-ball on a counter-attack and scored on a shot from about two yards to the right of the penalty spot.
Michels tallied the next goal to give Pacific Lutheran a 3-0 lead at 17:23. She took a pass from Alyssa Carter and lifted a shot into the left side-netting. The Bearcats cut the margin to two at 38:33 on Keil's unassisted goal on a direct free kick from 22 yards. Keil's shot from near the right edge of the box grazed the crossbar and went into the net.
The Lutes held a 15-2 edge in total shots during the first half. Each team took six shots in the second half. WU forced two saves by PLU goalkeeper Cassidy Crosswhite in the first 12 minutes of the second half. Crosswhite stopped a shot by Fionn Fortune (Sr., M/F, Alexandria, VA/St. Stephen's & St. Agnes/Hamilton Coll.) at 49:52. She also registered a save on a shot from Keil at 56:49.
Michels completed the scoring with a goal at 79:14. She was assisted on the play by Tennyson, who sent a pass to Michels, who took control about eight yards outside the box. Michels dribbled into the box and shot from 10 yards on the right side into the left side of the goal.
For the game, Michels and Magee each took six shots for the Lutes. Keil earned four shots for the Bearcats. PLU finished with a 21-8 margin in total shots and a 10-3 advantage in shots on goal. WU goalkeeper Kristen Barclay (Sr., GK, Kenmore, WA/Cedar Park Christian School) accumulated six saves, while Crosswhite made two saves for the Lutes.
Willamette will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 12 in a Northwest Conference game at Whitworth University. Game time in Spokane, Washington, is scheduled for 12 p.m. (PDT).