By Mark Colachico, Interim Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University womens soccer team will close out its four-game Northwest Conference road trip this Sunday, Sept. 28, against University of Puget Sound (Wash.). Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. (PDT) in Tacoma, Washington.

Last weekend, the Bearcats traveled to the east side of Washington taking on Whitman College (Wash.) and Whitworth University (Wash.) for the second and third games in their four-game opening NWC road trip.

In a defense-minded game against Whitman on Saturday, Willamette only registered four total shots falling to the Missionaries, 1-0, on a goal at 27:57 by Brianna Brown. The Bearcats' Emily Sewall (So., GK, Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS) only registered one save in the heart-breaking loss, as Willamette's defense only allowed six total shots.

One day later, Willamette returned to the field and picked up its first Northwest Conference win of the season behind a 1-0 victory over Whitworth. Jill Phillips (Jr., MF/GK, Fairbanks, AK/West Valley HS) scored the game's only goal at 61:40 netting her team-high third goal of the season on the unassisted game-winner. Sewall tallied a game-high six saves en route to securing her second shutout of the year.

So far this season, Phillips leads the team in all three offensive categories that includes eight points, three goals, and two assists. The junior midfielder is tied for the team lead in assists with Kelsey Walker (Fr., MF, Westerville, OH/Westerville North HS). Sarah Desautels (Sr., MF/F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Park HS) leads the team in total shots with 14, while Emmy Manset (Fr., F, Ventura, CA/Foothill Technology HS) has put 8-of-13 shots (61.5%) on target to lead the team. Sewall has stood between the pipes for all 630 minutes so far this season and registered 21 saves, which ranks sixth in the Northwest Conference.

Puget Sound enters this weekend's games riding a four-game winning streak, as the Loggers are 4-1 overall and 2-0 in NWC games. Robin Vieira and Amalia Acorda-Fey led UPS in goals with two each, while Vieira paces the Loggers with five points. Liz Blonden has handed out a team-leading two assists, while Lauren Thomas has stood between the pipes for all 450 minutes registering eight saves and a 0.60 GAA that is third-lowest in the conference.

Following this weekend's game, Willamette will play its first NWC home games against George Fox University (Ore.) and Linfield College (Ore.) on Saturday and Sunday, October 4-5. Both games are set to beginning at 12 p.m. (PDT) on Sparks Field.