Linfield Holds Off Fierce Rally by Bearcats to Win in Women's Soccer, 2-1

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Linfield College scored right before the buzzer in the first half, added a goal just over five minutes into the second half, and then held on against a strong Willamette University rally for a 2-1 Northwest Conference women's soccer victory on Wednesday, Oct. 14. Linfield upped its record to 8-3-1 overall, 5-3-1 in the NWC. Willamette slipped to 6-6-1 overall and to 6-3-0 in the NWC.

Willamette had the game's first two quality chances.

Veronica Ewers narrowly missed scoring 12:56 into the game, when her high-arching shot was deflected off the crossbar by Linfield goalkeeper Sarah Bailey. At 14:15, the Bearcats earned the only corner kick of the first half. The kick by Jill Phillips (Sr., D/GK, Fairbanks, AK/West Valley HS) was passed back toward the right post by Kelsey Walker (So., M/GK, Westerville, OH/Westerville North HS), but Linfield cleared the ball.

For the Wildcats, Emma Vukic almost scored at 25:40. She received a crossing pass, then shot toward the left post. WU goalie Emily Sewall (Jr., GK, Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS) recorded a save on the play.

Linfield took a 1-0 lead by scoring at 44:59, just one second before halftime. The goal was achieved on an 18-yard free kick taken by Vukic from the right corner of the penalty box.

The Wildcats advanced their lead on a shot by Rachael Gernhart at 50:26. She launched a shot from the right side and scored her fourth goal of the season.

When Gernhart scored, Linfield held a 7-3 edge in total shots. Willamette outshot the Wildcats 12-4 the rest of the way.

The Bearcats found the net at 80:36 on a 28-yard blast by McKenzie Andringa (Sr., M/D, Yakima, WA/La Salle HS).

Shortly after Andringa's goal, Kyleigh Jandor of Linfield took a shot that hit the crossbar. Later, Gernhart missed high with a shot at 86:48.

Willamette took three shots in the final four-and-a-half minutes, including two that required saves by Bailey.

Andringa, taking a nearly-identical shot to her goal, sent another powerful attempt at 85:35, but Bailey gained a save. Karmen Chavez-Sam (Fr., D, Eastvale, CA/Eleanor Roosevelt HS) of WU missed high at 87:48. At 89:06, Kate Matthews (Fr., M, Bainbridge, WA/Bainbridge HS) took a shot that Bailey kept out of the net.

The Bearcats finished the game with a 15-11 advantage in shots, including an 11-4 margin in shots on goal. Bailey registered 10 saves -- eight in the second half -- for the Wildcats, while Sewall attained two saves for Willamette. The Bearcats took three corner kicks, while Linfield earned one.

WU will return home to host Pacific Lutheran University on Saturday, Oct. 17. Game time at Sparks Field is set for 12 p.m. (PDT). PLU, which leads the NWC at 6-1-1 (19 points), is 10-1-1 overall, losing only to Willamette. The Bearcats, currently in second in the NWC with 18 points, defeated the Lutes, 2-0, on Sept. 19 in Parkland, Washington.