By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Emmy Manset (Jr., F, Ventura, CA/Foothill Technology HS) scored two goals and Liz Stewart (So., D/F, Sisters, OR/Sisters HS/Texas Christian University) put in one goal to lead Willamette University to a 3-0 victory over George Fox University, in Northwest Conference action on Sunday, Nov. 6. Manset and Stewart each provided a goal in the first half, and Manset added another goal in the second half.
Willamette concluded its season with a winning record at 9-8-3. The Bearcats finished the NWC schedule with a 6-7-3 record (21 points, 5th place). George Fox ended the year at 3-14-3 overall, 3-11-2 (11 points) in the NWC.
Emily Sewall (Sr., GK, Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS) and Hannah Seyffert (So., GK, Altadena, CA/International Poly-Technic HS) combined for the Bearcats' eighth shutout of the season. Sewall registered six saved and played 82:20. Seyfffert earned one save while playing the final 7:40 of the first half.
Morgan Bars of GFU suffered the goalkeeping loss. She played all 90 minutes and achieved five saves.
Manset scored her first goal at 24:07. She shot from just two yards away near the right post. The ball hit the inside of the right post, then caromed into the left side-netting. Manset's shot was set up by a nifty pass from Stewart at the top of the penalty area.
George Fox almost tied the game at 28:59 on a 40-yard free kick from the right side by Leanna Harris. Sewall earned a save on the play, as she deflected the ball into the left post. It bounced off the post and back to Sewall.
Less than a minute later, Stewart scored for Willamette at 30:25 to give the Bearcats a 2-0 lead. Madelynn Ellis (Sr., D, Lake Oswego, OR/Lake Oswego HS) earned an assist on the goal with a corner kick that went toward the left post. Stewart scored on a header, as she sent the ball into the middle of the goal.
The Bruins had a second quality chance to score at 41:02, when another lengthy shot by Harris was grabbed by Seyffert in goal. The ball was dislodged from Seyfferrt's grasp and bounced into the net, but a foul was called against George Fox.
Manset netted her second goal of the game and team-leading seventh goal of the season on a half-volley from 5 yards into the right corner of the goal at 76:47. Stewart received an assist after taking a free kick several yards inside the midfield stripe. The ball bounced once before Manset scored.
The Bearcats earned an 18-14 edge in total shots and owned a 9-7 lead in shots on goal. WU also gained a 6-2 margin in corner kicks. Manset led all players with five shots, including three shots on goal. Stewart took three shots -- all on goal -- for Willamette, while Harris provided GFU with four total shots and three shots on goal.
Prior to the game, the Bearcats honored their six seniors: Ellie Cordova (Sr./Jr., F/M, Salem, OR/South Salem HS), Ellis, Kinsey Keene (Sr., F, Eagle, ID/Eagle HS), Jaclyn Parnell (Sr., D, West Richland, WA/Richland HS), Emma Sanders (Sr., M, Kennewick, WA/Southridge HS), and Sewall.
Sewall completed her career with 59 games played and a 1.06 goals against average. She earned 213 career saves, 20 solo shutouts and four shared shutouts. This season, she contributed a 0.76 goals against average and 33 saves in 14 appearances.
Sanders played in 79 games in her career, while Keene saw action in 78 games and Ellis played in 66. Parnell competed in 58 games, and Cordova played in 38 games despite missing one season.
