Denney Scores a Goal, but Lutes Rally for 4-1 Win as Cecil Earns a Hat-Trick

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

TACOMA, Wash. -- Erin Denney (Fy., M, San Diego, CA/Point Loma HS) of Willamette University gave the Bearcats a 1-0 lead with a goal at 49:07, but Hannah Cecil of Pacific Lutheran University scored at 52:13 and added two goals later in the game for a hat-trick, leading the Lutes to a 4-1 win on Sunday, Oct. 23 at East Field. Cecil's final two goals broke a 1-1 tie and were scored 48 seconds apart at 76:24 and 77:12. Alyssa Leong completed the scoring at 78:22 as the Lutes tallied the final three goals in just under two minutes.

PLU advanced its record to 12-1-2 overall, 9-1-1 (28 points) in the Northwest Conference. The Lutes are tied for first place in the NWC with the University of Puget Sound, which also has a 9-1-1 conference mark. Willamette ended the game at 5-9-1 on the season, 3-8-1 in the NWC.

The teams were tied at 0-0 when the first half ended. The Lutes held a 9-1 margin in total shots and a 6-1 lead in shots on goal after 45 minutes.

Denney put Willamette in front 1-0 when she scored an unassisted goal just over four minutes into the second half. Denney won the ball at the top of the 18-yard box, moved around one defender and avoided two others, then beat PLU goalie Shaylin Cesar with a shot from 12 yards. The play began with a lengthy cross from Jackie Gilroy (Sr., F, Mercer Island, WA/Mercer Island HS) that a defender for the Lutes couldn't control several yards into the penalty area.

Cecil tied the game just over three minutes later on a 5-yard header into the upper right corner of the net. Julia Casubie recorded an assist on the play with a well-placed cross from the left side near the end line. The teams remained tied at 1-1 for about 24 minutes before Cecil added the next two goals. She gave PLU the lead with a goal that was assisted by Leong in the 77th minute. Cecil then provided her third goal of the game less than a minute later with an assist from Causbie. Leong scored the Lutes' fourth goal in the 79th minute on a penalty kick.

The Lutes finished the game with a 17-6 advantage in total shots and a 12-5 margin in shots on goal. PLU also gained a 5-0 edge in corner kicks. WU goalie Rachel Compton (Sr., GK, Lake Stevens, WA/Lake Stevens HS/Skagit Valley College) kept Willamette in the game throughout the first half with five saves. A defender also cleared a ball near the goal line in the first half. Compon ended the contest with seven saves. Cesar made four saves for Pacific Lutheran.

Cecil took six shots to lead all players, while Leong finished with four shots for the Lutes. Cecil and Leong each provided PLU with four shots on target. Joleigh Miller (Sr., D, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) led the Bearcats with two shots as she placed both shots on goal.

Willamette is set to play at Lewis & Clark College on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. (PDT). The NWC game will be played at Griswold Stadium on the Lewis & Clark campus.