By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette women's soccer team is off to an 8-5-1 start, including a solid 7-2-1 record in the Northwest Conference (3rd place, 22 points). Willamette's success in the NWC has been generated by an impressive 5-0-1 record in conference games that go into overtime.
The six overtime games for the Bearcats have occurred in the last nine games. All five of the wins have been decided in the first overtime, including four 1-0 victories. The only game to go into a second overtime ended in a 0-0 tie against the University of Puget Sound on Sept. 29.
Willamette's 1-0 overtime wins have been against George Fox University on Sept. 22 and Oct. 20, versus Whitworth University on Oct. 12, and against Whitman College on Oct. 13. The Bearcats earned a 2-1 overtime win against Lewis & Clark College on Oct. 2.
In overtime this season, the Bearcats have outscored their opponents, 5-0. The winning goals have been by five different players -- Lacey Jones (Jr., F, Portland, OR/David Douglas HS), Aoi Sawanobori (So., M, Kofu, Japan/TIUA), Sydney Wilson (So., M, Olympia, WA/Capital HS), Emma Blackburn (So., F, Los Altos, CA/Saint Francis HS) and Shanna Keil (Sr., F, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS).
For the year, Willamette has outscored its opponents 19-14. Keil leads the way with six goals and one assist for 13 total points. Blackburn follows with four goals and one assist for nine points, while Jackie Gilroy (Fy., F/M, Mercer Island, WA/Mercer Island HS) has scored two goals and one assist. Also with two goals are Wilson, Jones, and Julia Fecteau (So., F, Bend, OR/Bend HS).
Keil has achieved 22 goals and 13 assists for 57 total points in her career. She has taken a total of 164 shots for the Bearcats, including 89 shots on target. She has scored nine career game-winning goals.
The Bearcats at the defensive end of the field have combined for a 0.96 goals against average. Starting goalkeeper Kristen Barclay (Sr., GK, Kenmore, WA/Cedar Park Christian School) is 6-5-1 on the season, with a 0.95 GAA and 58 saves, plus four complete-game shutouts and two shared shutouts. Barclay owns a career record of 35-16-10 (.656), including 18 solo shutouts and 12 shared shutouts. She has a 0.86 career GAA.
Willamette is back in action on Saturday, Oct. 26, when the Bearcats will play at Pacific University. Game time in Forest Grove, Oregon, is set for 12 p.m. (PDT).