Penalty Kick Goal by Cleland Helps Bearcats Claim a 1-1 Tie with L&C

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Sophie Cleland (Sr., F, Eugene, OR/North Eugene HS) of Willamette University scored on a penalty kick at 72:19 and Lewis & Clark College scored a goal at 79:48, as the Bearcats and the Pioneers battled to a 1-1 tie on Sunday, Oct. 15 at Sparks Field. It was Willamette's second tie during the week, after the Bearcats played to a 2-2 draw at Linfield University on Wednesday, Oct. 11. Cleland scored both of WU's goals in that game, including the game-tying goal at 89:08.

The tie with Lewis & Clark moved Willamette to 1-9-4 on the season and to 1-6-3 in the NWC. The Bearcats are 1-1-2 in their last four games after losing three one-goal games in a row. The Pioneers ended the day with a 3-7-3 record, including 3-4-2 in the NWC.

Cleland received the chance to take the penalty kick after a Lewis & Clark player was called for a handball during a scramble near the six-yard box. Cleland placed the penalty shot into the lower left corner of the goal.

L&C tied the score on a  34-yard direct free kick by Carson Warfield from the left side of the field. She sent her kick around a three-person wall and into the top of the net after the ball deflected slightly off the raised hands of WU goalkeeper Sabella Pisicoli (Fy., Hacienda Heights, CA/La Serna HS).

Neither team could break the tie in the final 10 minutes of the game, as both defensive units prevented any shots. For the game, Lewis & Clark earned a 16-6 margin in total shots and a 6-2 edge in shots on goal. The Pioneers also built a 9-1 lead in corner kicks. Pisicoli registered five saves in her first collegiate start, while L&C goalie Sophia Young made one save.

Both teams hit a crossbar with a shot. Cleland sent a shot into the right upright just 5:35 into the game. Elle Sparks of L&C took a shot that hit the right upright at 16:49. Cleland and Jordi Niederberger (Jr., M/D, Lakeside, CA/El Capitan HS) each led Willamette with two shots. Warfield created four shots for the Pioneers.

Willamette will play an NWC game at the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Oct. 21. Game time in Tacoma, Washington, is set for 12 p.m. PDT.