Bearcats Fall to Puget Sound, 2-0, as Loggers Finish Regular Season Undefeated

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- University of Puget Sound defeated Willamette University, 2-0, at Sparks Field on Sunday, Nov. 8 to conclude the regular season with an undefeated record of 16-0-4. The Loggers finished first in the Northwest Conference at 12-0-4 and will receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Willamette ended the season at 9-9-2 overall. The Bearcats took third place in the NWC with a 9-6-1 record.

Puget Sound is ranked #15 in the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Poll released by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

Both goals in Sunday's game were scored by Jacquelyn Anderson of Puget Sound. She recorded the first goal at 11:56 on a shot from 15 yards into the lower left corner of the net. Cassie Winter earned an assist on the play. Winter passed the ball from the right side to set up Anderson near the top of the penalty area.

Anderson scored her second goal 75:22. The play began with a pass in the final third from Danielle Silver to Lix Blonden, who overlapped on the right side. Blonden moved within several yards of the end line and then sent a crossing pass. Anderson shot from eight yards in to the middle of the goal.

The Loggers put pressure on Willamette's defense early in the match, as Puget Sound earned eight shots in the first 20 minutes. Two of the shots were in the first minute. Anderson shot just 36 seconds into the game, but WU goalkeeper Emily Sewall (Jr., GK, Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS) registered a save. Winter placed a follow shot over the goal.

Willamette created its first shot at 21:05, when Emmy Manset (So., F, Ventura, CA/Foothill Technology HS) redirected a cross at a difficult angle near the end line. She forced UPS goalie Lauren Thomas to make a save.

After the early offensive success for Puget Sound, Willamette stablized the game and limited the Logger's chances to mostly low-risk shots the rest of the game.

At halftime, the Loggers held a 10-2 advantage in total shots, but held a slimmer 2-1 margin in shots on goal.

Sewall added three saves for Willamette in the second half as she earned four saves overall. She finished the year with a 0.91 goals against average and 75 saves.

Puget Sound outshot the Bearcats 7-2 in the second half. The Loggers claimed a 17-4 margin in shots taken during the game, including a 6-2 edge in shots on goal. UPS received eight corner kicks, while the Bearcats did not have a corner kick.

McKenzie Andringa (Sr., M/D, Yakima, WA/La Salle HS) of WU took a shot at 77:45 that Thomas grabbed to prevent a score. Kelsey Walker (So., M/GK, Westerville, OH/Westerville North HS) shot for the Bearcats at 84:03, but her free kick from 33 yards was high.

Thomas of UPS recorded the complete-game shutout with two saves. It was Puget Sound's 16th shutout of the season. The Loggers have allowed only three goals this year.

Anderson led all players with five shots, including three shots on goal. Manset topped Willamette with two shots and placed one shot on goal.

Prior to the game, Willamette honored its four seniors. This year's seniors are McKenzie Andringa (Sr., M/D, Yakima, WA/La Salle HS), Veronica Ewers (Sr., F, Moscow, ID/Moscow HS), Karin Hokanson (Sr., F/M, Woodinville, WA/International Community School), and Jill Phillips (Sr., D/GK, Fairbanks, AK/West Valley HS).