By Brandon Chinn, Athletics Communications Writer

SALEM, ORE. -- Set to compete for a Northwest Conference Championship in 2014, the Willamette University women's soccer team released its schedule for the upcoming season.

As announced by Head Coach Hillary Arthur, the Bearcats will play a jam packed 20-game schedule.

Willamette kicks off the season on Aug. 29 in California against University of Redlands. The game will be played on the campus of California Lutheran University. The Bearcats will stay in Thousand Oaks, Calif., through Aug. 31, when they go up against California Lutheran.

The 'Cats return to Sparks Field for their home opener on Sept. 6, against Warner Pacific College (Ore.). After a six-day layoff, the team welcomes in Northwest Christian University (Ore.) on Sept. 12 over Alumni Weekend/Homecoming.

Willamette begins its Northwest Conference schedule on the road against Lewis & Clark College on Sept. 17. That contest is the first of four consecutive road games to begin the NWC season. Eight of Willamette's first 11 NWC games will be played away from Sparks Field.

WU's first conference home games fall on Oct. 4-5, when the Bearcats host George Fox University and Linfield College.

Spending much of the first half of the season on the road, Willamette finishes up the 2014 season with a five-game homestand. That stretch of home games begins on Oct. 25, when the Bearcats challenge the University of Puget Sound.

Senior day for Willamette will be on Nov. 8 against Pacific University. It is Willamette's final game of the regular season.

The Bearcats finished last season with a 5-12-3 overall record, including a 3-10-3 mark in the NWC.

Willamette returns a healthy dose of talent for the 2014 season. Entering her senior campaign, Sarah Desautels (Sr., MF/F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS) anchors a strong core of returning players.

She tied for the team lead with four goals and also contributed two assists while playing in all 20 games. Desautels was awarded Second Team All-NWC honors for her play on the field.

Rachel Fleener (Jr., F, Olympia, WA/Olympia HS) returns at the forward position for Willamette, after matching Desautels with four goals last season.

In addition to the veterans returning on the roster, the team also features some talented returning youth. Kinsey Keene (So., MF, Eagle, ID/Eagle HS) played in 18 games as a freshman last season. She scored two goals and dished out an assist to record five total points.

Emily Sewall (So., GK, Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS) served as the Bearcat keeper for seven games in 2013. She notched 37 saves and finished with a 1-3-3 record. She earned four shutouts. Sewall was named NWC Women's Soccer Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week on Oct. 23 after shutting out both Lewis & Clark and #20 Linfield.