By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Gena Main (Jr., F, San Francisco, CA/Gateway HS/Bryn Mawr College) and Shanna Keil (Jr., F, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS) each scored a goal in the second half to send Willamette University past Pacific University, 2-0, in a Northwest Conference women's soccer game at Sparks Field on Sunday, Oct. 7. Main tallied her fourth goal of the season. Keil's goal was her seventh of the year, which leads the NWC.
The Bearcats improved to 10-0-2 overall and to 6-0-2 (20 points) in the NWC. Pacific dropped to 1-11-0 overall, 1-7-0 (3 points) in the NWC.
Willamette leads the conference by three points over Whitworth University, 5-1-2 (17 points) and University of Puget Sound, 5-1-2 (17 points). On Sunday, Whitworth tied Lewis & Clark College, 0-0 in two overtimes in Spokane, Washington, while Puget Sound tied Linfield, 0-0 in two overtimes in Tacoma, Washington.
"We had geat team contributions today," Willamette Head Coach Hillary Arthur commented. "After playing 110 minutes yesterday, plus the added travel coming home from Tacoma (after a 1-1 tie in two overimes at Pacific Lutheran University), to be able to turn around and play how we did today was a great testament to the depth and heart of our team."
Emily Thompson of Pacific took the game's first shot just 16 seconds into the first half. Willamette goalkeeper Kristen Barclay (Jr., GK, Kenmore, WA/Cedar Park Christian School) made a routine save.
A bit later at 10:34, Kate Matthews (Sr., M, Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS) of Willamette hit the crossbar. Fionn Fortune (Jr., M/F, Alexandria, VA/St. Stephen's & St. Agnes/Hamilton Coll.) took a follow shot that went toward he goal until it was cleared by a defender. Willamette ended the half with an 12-8 advantage in total shots and a 4-2 edge in shots on goal.
Main broke the scoreless tie with a shot at 55:41. She received the ball on a long throw-in by Rachael Moulton (Jr., D, Seattle, WA/Shorecrest HS). After trapping the ball, Main turned to her right and shot the ball into the net form 8 yards out.
Less than five minutes later, Keil doubled Willamette's margin to 2-0. Keil, who scored directly from a corner kick earlier this season, scored on Sunday on a sharp-angle free kick from 16 yards out and several yards to the right of the penalty area. Her line-drive shot went into the left corner of the goal at 60:16. Willamette had several offensive chances the rest of the way, but the Bearcats were unable to score.
Pacific forced Barclay to make two saves in the second half on shots by Kira Negrete at 79:43 and 88:20. Maddy Hooker (So., D, Bellingham, WA/Sehome HS) of Willamette took the final shot at 88:56, but it was blocked by the Boxers.
The Bearcats ended the game with a 19-13 margin in total shots and 7-4 lead in shots on goal. Thompson of Pacific led all players with five total shots. Negrete took four shots for the Boxers and placed a game-high three shots on target. Fortune topped WU with four shots, while Keil registered three shots.
Saya Brown recorded four saves for Pacific. Barclay also made four saves, as she earned her sixth solo shutout of the year. Barclay also has contributed to three shared shutouts.
Willamette will play a mid-week game at Linfield College on Wednesday, Oct. 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. (PDT). The Bearcats will return home for a Homecoming/Family Weekend Game against Lewis & Clark College on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 12 p.m. (PDT).
Big Moment of the Game for Willamette
Shannah Keil scored her NWC-leading seventh goal
of the season at 60:16 to give the Bearcats a 2-0
lead. She scored on a direct free kick from 16 yards
out and several yards to the right of the penalty area.
She sent the ball into the far left corner of the net. In 51
career games, Keil has scored 16 goals and 10 assists.
