Wilson Produces Two Goals in 2-0 Women's Soccer Victory over Whitman

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Sydney Wilson (Fr., M, Olympia, WA/Capital HS) scored her second and third goals of the season to lead Willamette University to a 2-0 Northwest Conference win over visiting Whitman College on Sunday, Sept. 30 at Sparks Field. Wilson scored with 5:33 left in the first half and with 8:39 remaining in the second half, as Willamette pushed its undefeated record to 9-0-1. The Bearcats also improved to 5-0-1 in the NWC. Whitman fell to 1-8-1 overall, 1-5-0 in the NWC.

Willamette, ranked #4 in the West Region of NCAA Division III by the United Soccer Coaches, defeated Whitworth University, ranked #9 in the West Region, by a 2-0 score on Saturday. Including Sunday's shutout, the Bearcats have kept eight of 10 opponents of the scoreboard this season.

Kristen Barclay (Jr., GK, Kenmore, WA/Cedar Park Christian School), who contributed three saves in the win against Whitman, has five solo shutouts this year to go along with three shared shutouts. She owns a 0.34 goals against average.

"Big congratulations to Sydney with her two outstanding goals," Willamette Head Coach Hillary Arthur said. "Also, hats off to our defensive effort and Kristen with the shutout. All in all, this was a great weekend. We'll take the momentum into training this week as we prepare for Pacific Lutheran and Pacific."

The first goal by Wilson against Whitman followed a crossing pass by Amanda Fong (Sr., F, Kensington, CA/El Cerrito HS) from the right side of the field. Wilson shot from 11 yards into the lower left corner of the net at 39:27. It was the last shot of the first half, which ended with Willamette holding a 7-3 edge in total shots.

WU went on to outshoot the Blues 9-4 in the second half to finish the game with a 16-7 lead in total shots. The Bearcats gained a 10-3 margin in shots on target during the game, and created seven corner kicks compared to just one corner kick for Whitman.

Wilson provided Willamette with its second goal at 81:21 on a shot from 17 yards and just left of the center of the field. Her blast went into the lower right portion of the goal. The shot followed a pass from the midfield by Paige Murray (Fr., D, Olympia, WA/Capital HS).

Although the Bearcats created two goals, Whitman goalie Elly Wolfe had a solid game for the Blues. She earned eight saves, with three in the first half and five in the second half.

Willamette has played nine of its first 10 matches at Sparks Field. The only road game so far was a 1-0 win at Lewis & Clark College in two overtimes on Sept. 15. The Bearcats will play at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, on Saturday, Oct. 6. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. (PDT). WU is set to face Pacific University at Sparks Field on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 12 p.m.