By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Shanna Keil (Sr., F, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS) of Willamette University scored the game's only goal with 1:14 left in the first overtime to lead the Bearcats to a 1-0 win over George Fox University on Sunday, Oct. 20 at Sparks Field. It was Keil's sixth goal of the season and gave the Bearcats their fifth win in overtime this year. Willamette is now 5-0-1 in overtime and 8-5-1 overall. The Bearcats are 7-2-1 in the Northwest Conference. George Fox fell to 4-6-3 on the season, 2-6-2 in the NWC.
The Bearcats are third in the NWC standings with 22 points. Pacific Lutheran University holds first place at 10-0-0 (30 points). University of Puget Sound is in second place at 8-1-1 (25 points).
Willamette outshot the Bruins 15-6 overall and 7-5 in shots on goal. Goalies Kristen Barclay (Sr., GK, Kenmore, WA/Cedar Park Christian School) of Willamette and Brooke Jones of GFU each made five saves. The Bruins also registered one team save when a defender for the Bruins cleared a shot off the goal line.
The overtime goal began with a throw-in on the right side. After the ball went to Annie Strom (Sr., D, Mount Vernon, WA/Mount Vernon HS), she turned and passed to Gena Main (Sr., F, San Francisco, CA/Gateway HS/Bryn Mawr College). Main took the ball into the penalty area about six yards from the end line. She sent a square pass onward to Keil, who connected with the ball in the middle of the six-yard box, redirecting it from four yards into the net past Jones.
Each team had one shot in the first half that required a challenging save to keep the score at 0-0. For Willamette, Sydney Wilson (So., M, Olympia, WA/Capital HS) took an open shot from 17 yards that forced Jones to dive to her right to push the ball away at 19:09. For the Bruins, Megan Harrington sent a high, looping shot from 24 yards toward Barclay, who jumped into the air to knock the ball down. Barclay quickly grabbed the rebound.
During the second half, Willamette earned six shots and the Bruins recorded four shots, but both teams prevented high-quality chances. The Bearcats gained a 3-0 edge in shots in overtime. A shot by Main at 93:27 went wide left, and a shot from Emma Blackburn (So., F, Los Altos, CA/Saint Francis HS) also went wide left at 97:01, before Keil put in the winning goal.
WU's 15 total shots included two shots each by six different players. The Bearcats gained a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.
The Bearcats will begin a string of four consecutive road games on Saturday, Oct. 26, when they travel to Forest Grove, Oregon, to take on Pacific University. Kickoff against the Boxers is set for 12 p.m. (PDT).
