By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
TACOMA, Wash. -- Nina Krassner-Cybulski (Jr., F, Porter Ranch, CA/Agoura HS) scored a goal for Willamette University on Saturday, Oct. 8, but Pacific Lutheran University remained in first place in the Northwest Conference with a 5-1 win over the Bearcats. Pacific Lutheran upped its record to 8-2-1 in all games and to 6-1-0 in the NWC. The Bearcats fell to 1-9-2 overall, 1-6-1 in the NWC. WU was playing its third game in six days and its fifth game in nine days.
Krassner-Cybulski has earned a goal in two consecutive games and now has 11 career goals in 50 games played. This year, she has two goals and one assist for five total points.
The Lutes took command with three goals in just over 26 minutes at the start of the game. Alyssa Leong opened the scoring at 5:49 on a counter-attack with an assist from Hannah Cecil. A bit more than 18 minutes later, Cecil scored an unassisted goal, and then she added another unassisted goal at 26:02. Zoe Markquart of Pacific Lutheran registered a goal at 42:43 as Riley Shaver picked up an assist. The Lutes held a 4-0 lead at the break.
Each team scored once in the second half.
Cecil completed a hat trick for the Lutes at 52:20 when she scored following an assist delivered by Ella Merte. Krassner-Cybulski sent the ball across the goal line for the Bearcats at 67:54. The play began with a long pass from Jaime Haysman Boaler (So., D, Stanford, CA/Notre Dame HS) from Willamette's half of the field. Krassner-Cybulski gained control near the top right corner of the 18-yard box, and then moved toward the goal, ultimately shooting from seven yards into the lower left corner of the net.
Pacific Lutheran claimed a 14-2 lead in total shots and a 9-1 margin in shots on goal. WU goalkeeper Siera Edwards (So., GK, Portland, OR/Sunset HS) made four saves for the Bearcats. Abby Winkler, who played the first 68:41 in goal for the Lutes, and Samantha Nelson, who went in goal for the final 21:19, shared the shutout for PLU.
Willamette will play at Linfield University on Wednesday, Oct. 11. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. PDT.
