SALEM, Ore. — Visiting Pacific played Northwest Conference leading Willamette evenly but the host Bearcats posted the lone score of the afternoon giving them a 1-0 victory in women's soccer on Saturday afternoon at Sparks Field.
With the win, Willamette remains in first place in the NWC at 6-1. They are 6-4-1 overall. With the hard fought loss, Pacific falls to 2-4-1 in conference play and 2-8-1 on the year.
The match was a toss up until Willamette's Veronica Ewers pushed a header pass Pacific goalkeeper
Kililani Kunitomo from four yards out in the 67th minute. Ewers winning goal came off a corner kick from Mackenzie Andringa.
Willamette had nine shots on the day to Pacific's eight, and the Boxers had four corner kicks to the Bearcats' two. Kunitomo had three saves in the match. Emily Sewall had three saves in the net and earned the shutout for Willamette.
"We are obviously disappointed in that loss," said head coach
Morgan Joseph. "One mental lapse on a set piece ended up being the difference, even though we had them on their back foot for most of the second half."
Pacific had an opportunity to take the lead at 51:20 on a shot by Tia Kinilau, but Emily Sewall recorded a save and sent the ball wide of the goal. Following the corner kick, Breezy Brookbank of Pacific took a shot that was blocked by a defender and hauled in by Sewall wide of the goal.
"Kuddos to our back line, especially Morgan (McClincy) and Breezy for shutting them down in open play, and to Holly Chang-Northway for a solid performance," Joseph added.Pacific will have a short time to recover as they head north on Sunday to Tacoma for a match-up against Pacific Lutheran. Start time is noon.
