Abraham Pulls Bearcats within 2-1, but Lutes Add Two Goals in Final 7:01
By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Ella Abraham (So., F, Lexington, KY/Lafayette HS) scored a goal for Willamette University five minutes into the second half to reduce Pacific Lutheran University's lead to 2-1, but the Lutes added goals at 82:59 and 88:00 to down the Bearcats, 4-1, on Sunday, Sept. 25 at Sparks Field. The Northwest Conference win improved Pacific Lutheran to 6-1-1 overall, 3-1 in the NWC. Willamette dropped to 4-3 on the season, 2-2 in the NWC.
PLU took a 1-0 lead 7:47 into the game when Hannah Cecil stole the ball near the top right corner of the Willamette 18-yard box and shot from 16 yards into the upper left corner of the goal. The Lutes expanded their lead to 2-0 at 30:04 on a goal by Alyssa Leong. The play began with a save by WU goalkeeper Rachel Compton (Sr., GK, Lake Stevens, WA/Lake Stevens HS/Skagit Valley College) on a shot by Jami Hughes. The ball deflected to the right of the goal, where Olivia Boehm gained control for the Lutes. Boehm was near the end line when she passed to Leong, who shot from nine yards into the middle of the net.
The Lutes remained in front 2-0 at halftime with a 7-5 lead in total shots, although Willamette held a 5-4 edge in shots on goal. Pacific Lutheran earned a 4-1 lead in corner kicks in the first half.
Willamette increased its pressure on the Lutes early in the second half. Abraham's goal was a key result, as she scored on a shot from 12 yards to the lower right corner at 50:00. Erin Denney (Fy., M, San Diego, CA/Point Loma HS) received an assist after setting up the score with a pass from the left side.
The Bearcats took four shots in approximately 33 minutes between the goal by Abraham and the Lutes' third goal of the game. Three of Willamette's shots during that portion of the game required saves, with PLU goalkeeper Shaylin Cesar stopping shots by Jackie Gilroy (Sr., F, Mercer Island, WA/Mercer Island HS) at 63:23, Denney at 68:57, and Abraham at 81:00. Cesar dove to get a touch on Abraham's shot from the left side that went near the far post. Two minutes prior to the save on Abraham's shot, the Lutes had a chance to score when an attempt by Jami Hughes was saved by Compton.
Pacific Lutheran claimed a 3-1 lead at 82:59 when Cecil scored her second goal of the game. She scored on a backward header from 13 yards into the left netting. Ellie Reardon provided an assist on the play with a long free kick.
Leong added her second goal of the game for the Lutes at 88:00 to complete the scoring. She stole the ball from WU's defense and got past a charging Compton just outside the 18-yard box. Leong shot from 18 yards into the lower left corner of the goal.
For the game, Willamette achieved a 14-11 advantage in total shots and an 11-7 edge in shots on goal. Each team registered one corner kick during the second half, leaving the Lutes with a 5-2 margin. Cesar was credited with 10 saves for Pacific Lutheran, while Compton made three saves for the Bearcats. Denney and Abraham each took three shots -- all on target -- for Willamette.
The Bearcats will take on Lewis & Clark College in an NWC match-up on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at Sparks Field. Game time is set for 7 p.m. (PDT).