Blackburn Scores as Bearcats Tie Warner Pacific 1-1 in Exhibition

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Emma Blackburn (Sr., F, Los Altos, CA/Saint Francis HS) scored for Willamette University as the Bearcats tied Warner Pacific University, 1-1, in a women's soccer exhibition game on Friday, Aug. 27. The game was called at the end of regulation.

Blackburn gave the Bearcats a 1-0 lead about 10 minutes after the opening whistle. She took a direct free kick from 18 yards out on the left side of the field and curled the ball into the goal near the far post.

Willamette remained in front for most of the game. Warner Pacific scored the tying goal with about two or three minutes left.

"We worked really hard at keeping possession, and we created some scoring opportunities," Willamette Head Coach Hillary Arthur said. "We just couldn't find the back of the net."

The Bearcats received strong performances from many players. All three Willamette goalkeepers were able to compete during the game. In addition to Blackburn's well-struck goal, the Bearcats also benefited from strong play by Jaime Haysman Boaler (Fy., D, Stanford, CA/Notre Dame HS), Clara Mattison (Jr., M, Burlington, WA/Burlington Edison HS), Morgan Richards (Sr., D, Roseburg, OR/Roseburg HS/Univ. of Oregon), and Isabel Duxbury (Sr., D, Seattle, WA/University Prep).

"I thought it was a great team effort," Arthur commented. "We just got unlucky in the final minutes of the match."

Willamette will open the regular season on Wednesday, Sept. 1 against crosstown rival Corban University. The home game for the Bearcats is set for Sparks Field at 5 p.m. (PDT).

NOTE:  Statistics were not recorded during the game.