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

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Emma Sanders (Fr., MF, Kennewick, WA/Southridge HS) scored a goal late in the first half, and the Willamette University defense did the rest, as the Bearcats shut out Lewis & Clark College, 1-0, on Wednesday, Oct. 16. The victory provided the Bearcats with their first Northwest Conference win of the season.

Willamette improved to 3-9-1 overall, 1-7-1 in the NWC. The Bearcats have recorded back-to-back shutouts, including a 0-0 tie against Pacific Lutheran University in two overtimes this past Sunday. Lewis & Clark dropped to 7-5-1 overall, 4-4-1 in conference play.

Bearcat goalkeeper Emily Sewall (Fr., Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS) earned six saves to obtain her second consecutive shutout, while Geena Fong of Lewis & Clark achieved five saves for the Pioneers. Sewall is 1-0-1 in her first two collegiate starts.

The goal by Sanders was scored at 38:21 on a follow-up shot after the initial shot by Alyssa Perreault (So., D/MF, Palo Alto, CA/Henry M. Gunn HS) was blocked by a defender.

Perreault shot from the left wing into the center of the penalty area. A defender for L&C blocked the shot, but could not control the rebound. The ball went toward an on-rushing Sanders, who shot from about 15 yards into the lower left corner of the goal.

Before Sanders put Willamette in front, the Bearcats overcame L&C's best stretch of offensive chances. The Pioneers took five of the game's first six shots, including one by Anna Thorndike just 1:25 into the match that was saved by Sewall.

L&C held an 8-2 edge in total shots prior to Willamette's scoring play. At halftime, L&C owned a 9-5 advantage in shots, but both teams had four shots on goal.

In the second half, the Bearcats outshot the Pioneers, 5-4, as each team added two shots on goal. One of Lewis & Clark's shots occurred seconds after the kickoff, when Thorndike struck the ball from 25 yards out. Sewall registered a save and gave up a short rebound, which she picked up before an L&C player could arrive.

The Bearcats gave up a quality shot just over a minute later, but Megan Ratfield sent the ball wide of the net. After Ratfield's shot, Willamette gave L&C few chances the rest of the way.

Willamette won many of L&C's passes to midfielders or forwards. When the first pass was headed by L&C, Willamette often prevailed on the second or third try. When needed, the Bearcats prevented quality service from the wings and marked Pioneer attackers well.

Sewall helped out too, accurately reading which passes she could pick up or boot away. She also made a clean grab on a corner kick by the Pioneer's with about 20:20 left, preventing any chance of a shot.

The Pioneers did get one more shot on target at 81:14. It was a lengthy shot by Sarah Schoville that was partially deflected by a WU defender. The deflection allowed Sewall to make a relatively easy save about eight yards out from goal.

Meanwhile, Sarah Desautels (Jr., MF/F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS) took three shots in the second half, including a shot on goal that Fong saved with 5:16 remaining in the game. Malia Simpson (Jr., MF, Fairbanks, AK/West Valley HS) placed a shot on goal earlier in the half that Fong saved at 58:35.

L&C achieved a 13-10 edge in total shots. The Pioneers also attained a 3-1 margin in corner kicks. L&C was call for 16 fouls, while the Bearcats committed 11 fouls. Thorndike of Lewis & Clark received a yellow card at 62:32 for the only caution of the game.

Willamette has gone 262:55 without allowing a goal. The shutout streak includes the final 62:55 against Pacific University on Oct. 12, plus all 110 minutes against Pacific Lutheran on Oct. 13 and all 90 minutes versus L&C.

The Bearcats will return home for two games this weekend. Willamette will take on Linfield College on Saturday, Oct. 19 at at 12 p.m. (PDT), before hosting George Fox University on Sunday, Oct. 20, also at 12 p.m.

Prior to the start of Saturday's game, former Willamette soccer player Elizabeth (Heaston) Thompson ('99) will be honored in advance of her being inducted into the Willamette Athletic Hall of Fame later in the evening.