Puget Sound Nips Bearcats 1-0 with Goal in 68th Minute

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

TACOMA, Wash. -- University of Puget Sound scored a goal in the 68th minute to break a scoreless tie and defeat Willamette University, 1-0, in a Northwest Conference women's soccer game on Sunday, Oct. 11. Puget Sound stayed undefeated at 8-0-4 overall, 4-0-4 (16 points) in the NWC. Willamette fell to 6-5-1 on the season, and slipped from first into second place in the NWC at 6-2-0 (18 points).

Pacific Lutheran University (6-1-1, 19 points) took over first place in the NWC by a single point with a 5-0 victory over Pacific University in a home game for the Lutes on Sunday. PLU's only loss was a 2-0 defeat against Willamette on Oct. 19 in Parkland, Washington.

The only goal for Puget Sound in its win over the Bearcats was recorded by Annie Prickett at 67:09. She advanced the ball from the right side and placed a shot low near the post. The goal was unassisted.

Prickett's goal ended a lengthy shutout streak for the Bearcats, who entered the game with six consecutive shutout wins. The Bearcats shut out their opponents for 667 minutes and 5 seconds.

After falling behind 1-0, Willamette took three shots between the 72nd and 77th minute. A shot by Kate Matthews (Fr., M, Bainbridge, WA/Bainbridge HS) was saved by UPS goalie Lauren Thomas at 71:23. Emma Sanders (Jr., M, Kennewick, WA/Southridge HS) shot just over a minute later at 72:26, but Thomas recorded another save. Matthews added a shot at 76:05 that went wide of the goal.

Puget Sound ended the game with a 14-4 advantage in total shots. The Loggers placed six shots on goal, while the Bearcats put three shots on target. Amalia Acorda-Fey of the Loggers led all players with five shots, including four shots on goal. UPS held a 6-1 lead in shots at halftime.

Willamette goalkeeper Emily Sewall (Jr., GK, Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS) earned five saves. Thomas, who was credited with three saves while claiming the shutout, has played all 1,160 minutes for UPS this season and has allowed just three goals for a 0.23 goals against average.

The Bearcats will travel to Linfield College on Wednesday, Oct. 14 for a game at 7 p.m. (PDT). Willamette returns home to play on Saturday, Oct. 17 against Pacific Lutheran at 12 p.m.