Early Goal Propels Whitman Past Willamette, 1-0

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

WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- Whitman College scored a goal just under nine minutes into the game and maintained the lead for more than 80 minutes to defeat Willamette University, 1-0, in a Northwest Conference game on Sunday, Nov. 3. Whitman goalkeeper Emily Davis achieved three saves to earn her sixth shutout of the season.

The win moved Whitman above the .500 mark at 10-9-0 overall, as the Missionaries went to 6-9-0 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 4-10-3 overall 2-9-3 in the NWC.

Jade Anderson provided Whitman with the game's only goal at the 8:57 mark. She scored on a header following a corner kick taken by Kelsey Peck.

The goal was part of a flurry of activity by the Missionaries in the first nine minutes, as they earned three of their six first-half corner kicks. Two of Whitman's three shots in the first nine minutes were set up by the corner kicks.

After Anderson scored, Willamette and Whitman battled for nearly 18 minutes without either team creating a shot. Paige Lancourt (Sr., MF, Eagle, ID/Eagle HS) of Willamette recorded the next shot at 26:44, as she forced Davis to make a save.

When the half ended, the Missionaries owned a 6-1 edge in total shots and held a slimmer 2-1 margin in shots on goal.

Whitman outshot the Bearcats 11-4 in the second half, but Willamette goalie Emily Sewall (Fr., Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS) saved all five of the shots by the Missionaries that were on target. Sewall concluded the contest with six saves overall.

Two of Willamette's shots in the second half were on frame in the final three minutes of action. A shot by Veronica Ewers (So., MF, Moscow, ID/Moscow HS) at 87:43 and a header by Kinsey Keene (Fr., MF, Eagle, ID/Eagle HS) at 88:19 were each saved by Davis.

In addition, WU earned a corner kick with 49 seconds left in regulation, but Whitman prevented the Bearcats from taking a shot.

The Missionaries ended the game with a 17-5 margin in total shots, as Whitman placed seven shots on goal, compared to three shots on goal by Willamette. Whitman finished with 11 corner kicks, while Willamette earned four corner kicks.

Willamette will complete its season next weekend with games at Pacific Lutheran University and Pacific University. The Bearcats will play at PLU on Friday, Nov. 8 at 11 a.m. (PST) in Parkland, Wash., before traveling to Forest Grove, Ore., to take on the Boxers on Saturday, Nov. 9, also at 11 a.m.