SPOKANE, Wash. – A pair of second half goals lifted visiting Willamette to a 2-1 victory over Whitworth in a Northwest Conference women's soccer match on Saturday afternoon at Whitworth Soccer Field.
The Pirates fell to 0-2-2 on the season (0-1 NWC) while the Bearcats (2-2-2, 1-1-1 NWC), who began conference play last week, earned their first NWC win of the season.
Whitworth found the back of the net first in the 17th minute with a beautifully executed set piece. Addison Dizard hooked a corner into the middle of the box where Sylvie Washington timed her jump perfectly and headed the ball into the top right corner for her first goal of the season.
The Pirates took the one-goal lead into halftime, but five minutes into the second half, the Bearcats found the equalizer. Identically to Whitworth's goal, Maddee Reid lobbed a corner into the box where Claire Warthen was there to head it in.
Both teams battled for 30 minutes until Willamette gained the advantage. The Bearcats drove toward the net and Natalie Rodriguez-De La Torre found Amanda McArthur in the right side of the box who made the most of her open look with the game-winning score.
Willamette had 14 shots to Whitworth's eight in the contest and had an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal.
Karlee Roderick made five saves in a full 90-minute effort for the Pirates. Washington, Katherine Kent and Rebekah Hines each had a pair of shots to lead the Whitworth attack.
Siera Edwards made one save for the Bearcats.
The Pirates will look to get in the win column tomorrow against Pacific (Ore.) at noon.
