By Timothy Walsh, Athletics Communications Writer

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University grabbed a first-half lead, but Whitworth University tied the game in the second half and scored the winning goal 1:51 into the first overtime, as the Pirates came from behind to defeat the Bearcats, 2-1, in a Northwest Conference women's soccer game at Sparks Field on Saturday, Nov. 1.

Whitworth improved to to 6-11-1 overall, 5-9 in the NWC, while Willamette fell to 2-14-1 overall, 1-11-1 in the NWC.

Sarah Desautels (Sr., MF/F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Park HS) opened the scoring for the Bearcats just 13:46 into the game.

After trading shots with the Pirates through the game's opening minutes, Desautels collected a pass from Kinsey Keene (So., MF, Eagle, ID/Eagle HS) near the top of the 18-yard box.Her shot toward the right side of the goal beat Whitworth goalkeeper Andrea Stump, giving the Bearcats a 1-0 lead.

Neither team scored during the remainder of the first half, though Willamette claimed a 7-3 advantage in shots. Willamette forced Stump into three saves during the opening period, including a diving stop of a shot by Marley Duncan (Fr., F,Pukalani, HI/Kamehameha School) at the 43:37 mark.

Whitworth's Megan McCart tied the match just over three minutes into the second half, at 48:25, on a cross from an extreme right angle that deflected off Bearcat goalkeeper Jill Phillips(Jr., MF/GK, Fairbanks, AK/West Valley HS) and into the upper right corner of the goal.

Phillips, making her first start of the season between the pipes, made three more saves in the second half to help Willamette send the game into overtime.

However, just 1:51 into the extra session, Whitworth's Katie Bischoff powered a free kick out of Phillips' reach and into the upper left corner of the net.

Stump recorded four saves for the Pirates, while Phillips finished with three saves for the Bearcats. Overall, Willamette earned a 13-8 edge in shots, with both teams registering five shots on goal.

The Bearcats will continue their season-ending, five-game homestand on Sunday, Nov. 2, when they host Whitman College at Sparks Field. Game time is set for 11 a.m. (PDT).