By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University goalkeeper Rachel Compton (Sr., GK, Lake Stevens, WA/Lake Stevens HS/Skagit Valley College) registered four saves in the first half, including a diving save on a penalty kick, to keep the University of Puget Sound off the scoreboard in the first half on Saturday, Nov. 5. The Bearcats and the Loggers were tied 0-0 after 45 minutes.
Prior to the game, Willamette honored its six seniors. They are Compton, Joleigh Miller (Sr., D, Salem, OR/South Salem HS), Jackie Gilroy (Sr., F, Mercer Island, WA/Mercer Island HS), Morgan Richards (Sr., D, Roseburg, OR/Roseburg HS/Univ. of Oregon), Bridget Bodor (Sr., F, Manitou Springs, CO/Manitou Springs HS), and Clara Mattison (Sr., M, Burlington, WA/Burlington Edison HS).
Several defensive plays for Willamette stood out in the first half. A shot by Radhika Webster Schultz of Puget Sound from eight yards just over 30 minutes into the game was saved by Compton about five yards from goal. The shot then rebounded off the crossbar. Compton deflected the rebound and Miller cleared the ball.
The next sequence started at 35:29 on a shot by Webster Schultz near the top of the 18-yard box after a line-drive header from the midfield. Compton forced the shot wide as it hit the left post, but the rebound went back to Webster Schultz, who was ready to shoot about seven yard from goal. Richards intervened for WU and dove to block the shot. Webster Shultz tracked down the ball and passed to Ava Cholakian, who was fouled eight yards from goal. Cholakian took the penalty kick that was awarded. Her shot was low and to her left, but Compton dove, partially grabbed the ball, then moved wide of the goal to smother the rebound.
Puget Sound, ranked fourth in Region X of NCAA Division III, continued to battle Compton and the Bearcat defense in the second half, but the Loggers found just enough space to score two goals, and then added two more tallies as Willamette pushed forward. With the 4-0 win, Puget Sound improved to 15-3-1 on the season, 12-2-1 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 6-10-2 overall, 4-9-2 in the NWC.
The first goal for the Loggers was scored by Sienna Kloss at 46:26. She shot from eight yards near the left post, sending the ball across the goal and off the right post, before it trickled into the net. Tess Carden earned an assist with an accurate corner kick.
Puget Sound's lead reached 2-0 on a shot by Cholakian about eight minutes later at 54:38. ola also took an 8-yard shot. It was deflected by Compton, but crossed the goal line near the right post. Cholakian was assisted by Genny Jilka.
Layla Santos recorded the final two goals, both on assists from Kiana Serrao. The first goal by Santos was at 60:21 on a 12-yard shot to the lower right section of the goal. Santos' second goal was scored from two yards in the middle of the goal area. Both assists were on passes from the right side.
For the game, the Loggers held a 21-2 advantage in total shots and a 13-1 margin in shots on goal. Mattison took both of Willamette's shots, including one at 68:08 that was saved by PS goalie Chaylea Tome. The Loggers gained an 8-2 lead in corner kicks.
Compton finished with a total of eight goals for the Bearcats. She has earned 45 saves on the season while playing 951 minutes in 12 games.
Willamette will conclude the season at George Fox University on Sunday, Nov. 6. Game time in Newberg, Oregon, is set for 11 a.m. (PST).
