By Mark Colachico, Contributing Writer
SPOKANE, Wash. – The Willamette University women's soccer team opened Northwest Conference (NWC) play Saturday, Sept. 17, against the Pirates of Whitworth University. In a battle that saw only one goal scored by both teams, neither squad could get on the scoreboard until the 65th minute when Whitworth netted the game's lone goal en route to registering a 1-0 victory over the Bearcats at the Whitworth Soccer Field.
Following today's result, Willamette drops to 2-2 on the season and 0-1 in NWC play. Meanwhile, Whitworth improves to 1-2-1 overall and 1-0 in conference action.
Clara Mattison (Sr., M, Burlington, WA/Burlington Edison HS) led Willamette with a pair of shots, including the Bearcats' lone shot on goal in the 69th minute that forced Whitworth's keeper to make a save keeping the visiting team off the scoreboard. Both of Mattison's shots came from more than 35 yards out, as her second shot was a blast from almost 36 yards away from the net causing the Pirates' net-minder to make the save keeping the shutout intact.
Mattison was aided offensively by Braeden Glaser (Jr., F, Battle Ground, WA/Prairie HS) and Ella Abraham (So., F, Lexington, KY/Lafayette HS), who each tallied one shot in the game. Glaser's shot in the 84th minute from 10 yards out sailed above the crossbar, while Abraham's shot in the game's final few minutes was blocked by a Whitworth defender thwarting any final scoring chances for the Bearcats.
Whitworth scored the game's only goal in the 65th minute when Kalena Pfaeltzer took a pass from teammate Savannah Acpal and converted a low shot to the right for her first goal of the season.
Willamette's Rachel Compton (Sr., GK, Lake Stevens, WA/Lake Stevens HS) registered a game and season-high 11 saves in between the pipes, while Whitworth's Kate Nelson only needed to record one save in order to collect her first shutout of the season.
Overall, Willamette tallied four shots (all in the second half) with one being on goal. On the other hand, Whitworth registered 17 shots, including 12 on goal.
The Bearcats will continue their NWC opening road trip tomorrow – Sunday, Sept. 18 – against the Blues of Whitman College starting at 12 p.m. (PDT) on the Whitman Athletic Fields in Walla Walla, Washington.