By Lance Fleming, Writer

WALLA WALLA, Washington – Whitman College jumped out to a 3-0 lead over Willamette University, but had to withstand a furious Bearcats' rally Saturday afternoon as the Blues took a 3-2 win in a Northwest Conference women's soccer match at the Whitman Athletics Fields on Oct. 28.

Willamette fell behind as the Blues dominated the early action, scoring all three of their goals in the first 68 minutes of the match. But the Bearcats would not go away, as they scored two goals in three minutes late in the second half to keep the pressure on Whitman.

In the 80th minute, junior forward Ella Abraham (Lexington, KY/Lafayette HS) scored her second goal of the season on an unassisted run. She picked up the ball in front of the net after a save by Whitman backup 'keeper Emily Badgley on a shot by Natalie Rodriguez-De La Torre (Fy., F/M, Burien, WA/Holy Names HS). Abraham put her follow-shot past Badgley to make it 3-1 at the 79:36 mark. Just a little more than two minutes later, the Bearcats were on the board again when Abraham found senior forward Sophie Cleland (Sr., F, Eugene, OR/North Eugene HS) for her fourth goal of the season. Cleland shot past Badgley into the lower right portion of the goal to make it 3-2.

Willamette had one final chance in the 90th minute on a corner kick that found junior midfielder Reagan Doty (Riverton, UT/Riverton HS)in front of the goal. However, Badgley saved her shot toward the low middle at the 89:26 mark to preserve the win for Whitman.

The Blues, 8-5-4 overall, 7-4-2 in the NWC, dominated possession, particularly in the early part of the second half.

Molly Beaulieu got the scoring just 1:56 into the contest when she took possession outside the penalty area and sent the ball to the far post and past Willamette 'keeper Siera Edwards (So., GK, Portland, OR/Sunset HS). The Blues took the  1-0 lead into halftime and scored 41 seconds into the second half as Virginia Hunt put a shot past Edwards for a 2-0 advantage. It appeared that Whitman sealed the win in the 68th minute when Chaney Heinbaugh scored on a penalty kick to make it 3-0 at the 67:20 mark, but Willamette would not go away.

The Bearcats, 2-11-3 overall and 2-8-2 in league play, will take on Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, on Sunday, Oct. 29. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. PDT.