SALEM, Ore. – Makenna Blix scored her first two career goals, including the match-winner in the first overtime period, to lift the Linfield Wildcats over the Willamette Bearcats 3-2 at Sparks Field on Wednesday evening.
The Wildcats improve to 4-1-0 on the season with three matches left in Northwest Conference play, the Bearcats fall to 1-2-0. This was the first overtime match for Linfield in 2021, it went 0-0-2 in overtime matches in 2019. Both of the Bearcats' defeats this season have been 3-2 overtime losses.
The Wildcats took the lead in the ninth minute on a goal by Blix.
Natalie Amara's free-kick was deflected and landed right at Blix, who had a clear angle at the goal. This was the first-career goal for the junior from Beaverton, Oregon. Amara got the assist on the goal.
Willamette took the ball right down the field after the match restarted following Blix's goal and tied the match at one on a goal by Emma Blackburn. The two goals were separated by 28 seconds. Jackie Gilroy assisted on the goal by Blackburn.
Michayla Sponsel broke the 1-1 dreadlock in the 79
th minute with her second goal of the season, this one was unassisted.
The Bearcats answered right back with a goal in the 82
nd minute by Blackburn, who has scored four goals this season, which is tied for the NWC lead. Gilroy had the assist on that one as well.
Blix ended the match with 37 seconds left in the first overtime period with a shot about four yards outside the penalty area. Her shot was just over the reach of the Bearcats' Grasiela Quevedo-Ramos.
Izzy Chauls got credited with an assist on the goal.
Sponsel had four shots and Blackburn had two shots to lead their respective teams.
Willamette had three shots on goal,
Madi Reimer saved one of them. Wildcats had the 11-7 edge in shots. Quevedo-Ramos started the match in goal for Willamette and made two saves.
The Wildcats had five corners, the Bearcats had none. Willamette committed eight fouls, compared to five for the Wildcats.
Sophomores
McCall Bennion and
Callie Kawaguchi came on as substitutes in the first half to make their Wildcat debuts.
This match was the first win for the Wildcats in Salem since 2015.
UP NEXT
The Bearcats come to McMinnville for the second part of the home-and-home series against the Wildcats, first kick is scheduled for 12 noon on Sunday at the Linfield Soccer and Lacrosse Complex.
