Whitman Downs Bearcats, 4-1, in Women's Soccer

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Whitman College poured in four goals in the second half to defeat Willamette University, 4-1, on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Sparks Field. The Missionaries led 2-0 on a pair of goal by Amy Hasson, before Stephanie Skelly (Sr., MF, Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap HS) scored for the Bearcats at 72:37. Whitman added goals at 76:56 and 83:42 to pull away.

The Missionaries, who were playing for the first time since Sunday, Oct. 30 in a 2-1 loss to Linfield College, ended the season at 8-10-2 overall, 6-8-2 (20 points) in the NWC. Whitman finished sixth in the NWC standings.

Willamette, which was playing its second game in as many days after downing Whitworth University, 2-0, on Saturday, Nov. 4, concluded the year at 11-8-1 overall, 10-5-1 (31 points) in the NWC. Willamette clinched third place in the NWC with the win on Saturday.

Hasson's two goals momentarily moved her into a tie with Skelly for this year's NWC goal-scoring crown with 15 goals apiece, but Skelly regained the lead with her 16th goal of the season. Skelly also leads the NWC in overall scoring with 37 total points, two more than Hasson.

Neither team scored in the first half, but Whitman kept Willamette goalkeeper Nicole Price (So., Auburn, WA/Thomas Jefferson HS) busy with five shots -- all on goal. Price responded with five saves to keep the game scoreless. Willamette earned four shots and looked threatening in the attacking third, but two shots hit the post, one was blocked and one went wide of the goal.

The Missionaries, fresh after nearly a week without playing, gained a 12-5 edge in total shots against the Bearcats in the second half. Whitman earned an 8-3 advantage shots on goal over the final 45 minutes.

Hasson tallied the game's first goal shortly after halftime, at 46:22, on a 16-yard shot after receiving a through ball by Marisol Fonzeca in the midfield. About nine minutes later, at 55:14, Hasson struck again, this time on a tap-in at the left post after Price saved a shot by Misha Evertz. Price deflected the initial shot off the left post, but Hasson was there to score on the follow shot.

Skelly pulled Willamette within a single goal and moved herself back into the NWC scoring lead with a shot in the 73rd minute. She scored from 16 yards out past on-rushing goalie Emily Davis. The goal was set up by a pass through the middle from Paige Lancourt (So., MF, Eagle, ID/Eagle HS).

Whitman took a 3-1 lead on a goal by MacKenzie Hughes in the 77th minute. She scored on a shot from 9-yards out after a pass from Kate Potter was flicked on by Marisa Poorboy.

The Missionaries recorded the final goal in the 84th minute. Hallie Swan who shot from 9 yards on the left side of the penalty area into the right corner of the goal. On the play, Poorboy earned her second assist of the game.

Whitman finished with a 17-9 margin in total shots (13-3 in shots on goal). The Bearcats gained an 8-4 edge in corner kicks.

Davis, who played only the second half in goal for Whitman, earned two saves. Lauren Brougham, the goalie in the first half, did not record a save.

Price played all 90 minutes in goal for Willamette and achieved eight saves. Defender Shannon Scott (Jr., Bellevue, WA/Sammamish HS) of WU cleared an additional shot off the goal line at 61:58 with Whitman in front 2-0 at the time. Hughes took the shot for the Missionaries.

Skelly, Willamette's only senior, was honored for her accomplishments over the past four seasons. She concluded her Willamette career with 35 goals and 7 assists for 77 total points.

Also prior to the game, the Bearcats took time to honor members of the Willamette 1998 women's soccer team, which was inducted into the WU Athletics Hall of Fame later in the day on Saturday. The 1998 team earned a 19-1-4 record, won the NWC title with a 14-0-2 mark and won or tied a school record 23 games before losing in the NCAA Division III Final Four.