By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Senior midfielder Stephanie Skelly (Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap HS) picked a great moment to give her team a lift, as she scored with 20 seconds left in the first half to give Willamette University a 1-0 lead and momentum in a Northwest Conference women's soccer game against George Fox University on Sunday, Oct. 2. WU took the momentum and added three goals in the second half -- including another strike by Skelly -- to shut out the Bruins, 4-0, at Sparks Field.

Willamette moved above the .500 mark at 5-4-1 on the season, while improving to 4-1-1 in the NWC. The Bearcats are in second place in the NWC standings with 13 points, two points behind Puget Sound (5-1) and two points ahead of Linfield (3-1-2) and Whitworth (3-2-2). Whitworth and Linfield played to a 0-0 tie in two overtimes in McMinnville, Ore., on Sunday.

George Fox fell to 1-6-3 overall. The Bruins dropped to 1-4-1 in NWC action.

The Bearcats outshot GFU, 13-6, during the game and held an 8-2 margin in shots on goal. Skelly led all players with four shots, including three shots on target. With two goals on the day, she increased her season scoring total to six goals and one assist for 13 points.

Skelly's first goal against the Bruins was unassisted. She controlled the ball near the top of the Whitman penalty box with about 30 seconds left. She cut pass one player, then cut back toward the center of the field to gain space past two more defenders. Her shot from 14 yards hit the crossbar and bounced into the goal at 44:40, before rebounding onto the field.

Shannon Scott (Jr., D, Bellevue, WA/Sammamish HS) and Sarah Desautels (Fr., F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS) also netted goals for the Bearcats.

Scott tallied her first goal of the season at 56:50 on a 25-yard free kick into the upper left portion of the goal. Desautels recorded her third goal of the season -- and third in as many games -- on a 9-yard shot from the right side toward the near post at 89:58.

WU goalkeeper Gina Barbieri (Fr., Medford, OR/St. Mary's School) made two saves while earning the shutout. GFU goalie Alyssa Montero made three saves before giving way to Lyndsee Landon for the final 8:15. Landon registered one save.