Walker Converts Penalty Kick in 2nd Overtime to Send Bearcats Past Pioneers, 1-0

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Kelsey Walker (So., M/GK, Westerville, OH/Westerville North HS) scored on a penalty kick with 6:16 left in the second overtime to give Willamette University a 1-0 victory over Lewis & Clark College on Sunday, Nov. 1 at Sparks Field. The Northwest Conference win improved the Bearcats to 8-5-1 in the NWC and to 8-8-2 overall. L&C fell to 6-7-1 in the NWC, but remained above .500 overall at 10-7-1.

The penalty kick was awarded after Kinsey Keene (Jr., F, Eagle, ID/Eagle HS) of Willamette was tripped in the penalty area. Walker converted the ensuing penalty kick for her fifth goal of the season. She is Willamette leading scorer this year.

Lewis & Clark held a slim 17-15 advantage in shots during the game, but WU goalkeeper Emily Sewall (Jr., GK, Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS) responded with seven saves to keep the Pioneers off the scoreboard. It was Sewall's eighth shutout -- and Willamette's ninth -- this season.

The first half featured just seven shots, including four by the Bearcats and three by the Pioneers. Sewall recorded the only save in the first 45 minutes, when she stopped a shot by Isobel Fikso at 25:46. Willamette took the final shot of the half, an effort by Izzy Lilly (Fr., M, Sebastopol, CA/Analy HS) that went wide left.

Action increased in the second half with Lewis & Clark outshooting the Bearcats 12-7. Sewall earned saves on all six of L&C's shots that were on target. Sandra Alvarenga of L&C faced two shots on goal and made two saves.

The Pioneers took five shots between 81:43 and 85:40, while the Bearcats earned three shots in the final 88:40 and the end of regulation.

Two of the shot by L&C late in regulation forced saves by Sewall -- a header by Megan Ratfield at 81:43 and a shot by Anna Thorndike at 84:55. Two other shots missed following corner kicks.

At 88:40, a shot by McKenzie Andringa (Sr., M/D, Yakima, WA/La Salle HS) of Willamette was blocked out of bounds. Andringa took the resulting corner kick that eventually led to a shot by Walker that went wide right. Keene shot for WU with four seconds left in regulation, but Alvarenga recorded a save.

The first overtime was highlight by three shots from Willamette and two from L&C, but neither team scored. The first -- and only -- shot of the second overtime was the penalty kick by Walker at 103:44. Walker also scored the only goal in the Bearcats' 1-0 win at Lewis & Clark on Oct. 4.

Willamette will play at Pacific University on Friday, Nov. 6. Game time is set for 7 p.m. (PST).