By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The 2020 schedule for the Willamette University women's soccer team features 16 games against Northwest Conference opponents, three match-ups with teams from the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), and a game against Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) opponent Northwest Christian University. The Bearcats will play nine regular season home games at Sparks Field.

Even before the regular season gets underway, the Bearcats will have a chance to compete in a game situation when they host crosstown rival Corban University in and exhibition game for Willamette on Aug. 28.

The regular season will begin on Sept. 1 in Eugene, Oregon, against Northwest Christian. Willamette will be on the road for games at Whittier College (Calif.) on Sept. 4 and California Lutheran University on Sept. 6. The Bearcats will host the University of Redlands on Sept. 11.

Willamette is set to open NWC action on Wednesday, Sept. 16 against nearby rival Linifeld College. The Bearcats will play eight home games during the NWC's double round robin schedule. After taking on Linfield, the Bearcats will play NWC home games against Whitman College on Sept. 26, Whitworth University on Sept. 27, Pacific University on Oct. 10, defending champion Pacific Lutheran University on Oct. 17, George Fox University on Oct. 31, Lewis & Clark College on Nov. 1, and the University of Puget Sound on Nov. 8.

The Bearcats will play at Linfield in the second of their rivalry games on Oct. 14. Willamette will celebrate Senior Day at the home game against Puget Sound to conclude the regular season.

Willamette finished the 2019 season with an 11-7-2 overall record and a 10-4-2 mark (32 points, 3rd place) in the NWC. It was WU's third consecutive season with 11 or mor ewins.