Bearcats Tie Boxers 2-2 on Penalty Kick by Cleland with 1:27 Left

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Willamette University forward Sophie Cleland (Sr., Eugene, OR/North Eugene HS) scored on a penalty kick with 1:27 remaining in the game to tie Pacific University 2-2 at Hanson Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 5. The penalty kick completed Cleland's efforts to score a tying goal in the closing minutes. She took a shot that missed high with 5:08 remaining and then shot wide right with 3:27 to go.

After Pacific was called for a foul in the penalty area, Cleland went to the penalty spot and sent the ball into the net a bit left of center. She improved to 3 for 3 on penalty kicks this season. Cleland is Willamette's leading scorer with five goals and one assist for 11 total points.

Cleland made sure that Sunday's game ended in a tie with her flurry of shots in the closing minutes. She led all players with four shots overall, including a shot at 53:06 that was saved by Pacific goalkeeper Elle Hamilton.

Neither team was able to score in the limited time following Cleland's tying goal. Pacific's Violet Santiago took a shot that went high as time expired.

Willamette concluded the season with a 2-13-5 record, including 2-10-4 in the NWC. The Bearcats were 2-5-3 in the final 10 games, including three one-goal losses. Pacific moved to 4-13-2 on the season, 3-11-2 in the NWC.

The Bearcats scored first on a shot by Ella McComas (Fy., F, Seattle, WA/Cleveland HS) at 32:57. McComas earned her goal on a shot from 15 yards that went near the upper left corner. Reagan Doty (Jr., M, Riverton, UT/Riverton HS) was credited with an assist on the play.

Pacific tied the score at 1-1 with a goal by Brooklyn Yano at 56:28. Yano shot from about 16 yards into the lower left corner after receiving a pass from Grace Hammermeister. Yano scored again roughly 20 minutes later at 76:04 to give the Boxers a 2-1 lead. Her second goal was on a 14-yard shot that stayed low as it went into the net. Julia Fechter recorded an assist on the goal.

For the game, WU held a 9-7 edge in total shots, while both teams took four shots on target. Sam Borngasser (Jr., GK, Grants Pass, OR/Grants Pass HS), who played in goal for Willamette, earned two saves. Hamilton finished with one save for Pacific while playing the final 45 minutes. Isabella De La Curz, who started in goal and played the first 45 minutes for the Boxers, also contributed one save. Willamette achieved a 3-2 lead in corner kicks.

The contest included 27 total fouls, with 15 fouls against Pacific and 12 fouls on Willamette. Nineteen of the fouls were called in the second half after each team committed four fouls in the first half.