SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University battled the University of Puget Sound into two overtime periods in a scoreless game, before Meghan Ellis of UPS scored the only goal at 106:24 to give the Loggers a 1-0 win. The game was just 3:36 away from ending in a 0-0 tie.
Puget Sound improved to 3-2-2 on the season and to 1-1-2 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette dropped to 2-6-0, including 0-4-0 in the NWC. All four of Willamette's losses in conference play have been by one goal.
Ellis produced the goal from 7 yards out following the rebound of a shot by Kylie Beeson. WU goalkeeper Nicole Price (Sr., Auburn, WA/Thomas Jefferson HS) saved the initial shot by Beeson, but Ellis received the loose ball and scored.
UPS achieved a 13-8 advantage in total shots, but Willamette held a 6-5 edge in shots on goal. The Loggers earned eight corner kicks, while the Bearcats finished with two corner kicks.
Price played the entire game in goal for Willamette and achieved a total of four saves. Casey Thayer earned one save for UPS while playing the first 45 minutes of the game. Lauren Thomas was in goal for the final 61:24 for the Loggers and registered three saves. Two of Willamette's shots were kept out of the net when they were cleared by defenders.
Sarah Desautels (Jr., MF/F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS) took four shots -- all on goal -- for Willamette. She forced Thomas to make a save at 92:00 in the first overtime. For UPS, four players each contributed two shots, including Beeson, who placed both of her shots on goal.
Prior to the winning play, both teams had one shot on goal in the second overtime. Jill Shimabuku of UPS took a shot that was saved by Price at 103:40 and a shot by Desautels was kept out of the goal by Thomas at 104:48.
The Bearcats will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 5 with a Northwest Conference game at George Fox University. Game time in Newberg, Ore., is scheduled for 12 p.m. (PDT).
Nicole Price played all 106 minutes for Willamette and recorded four saves in goal.
