2008 Woodie Awards
Women's soccer sweep breaks school record
Women are 7-0 for first time ever
Jordan Rusk, Staff WriterThe success continues as the undefeated Women's soccer team knocked off Willamette University and George Fox University this weekend to improve to 7-0-0 overall, the best start in school history.
The team began the weekend September 22 in Salem, Ore. to take on the Willamette Bearcats. Junior forward Whitney Ramsey scored in the 10th minute to stake the Pirates out to a 1-0 lead. Senior forward Greta Thibodeau assisted on the play after her shot was fumbled by Willamette goalkeeper Lo Holahan. Ramsey tapped in the rebound for the early goal.
The Bearcats managed to score before the halftime whistle, tying the game 1-1 on a late strike by Willamette's Alex Batzer. Thibodeau put away the game winner from inside the six-yard box in the 73rd minute after a cross in from freshman midfielder Ellen Seagraves.
The Pirates outshot the Bearcats 23-8 in the contest. Sophomore goalkeeper Krista Dietz made two saves.
Sunday the Pirates arrived in Newberg, Ore. to take on a tough Bruins team who came in undefeated in league play.
The Pirates went up early, as sophomore Lindsay Oakes found senior Kelly Baker for a Pirate goal in the 26th minute. But Whitworth slipped up shortly after, scoring an own goal and tying the game up for the Bearcats.
The ladies followed up their mistake with an immediate goal at the other end, as senior midfielder Kara Tisthammer scored in the 34th minute to put Whitworth up 2-1.
George Fox tied the game at 2 in the second half when Kirsten Cardwell scored in the 51st minute. Much like Saturday, though, Ramsey and Thibodeau put the game away for Whitworth. Thibodeau, along with senior midfielder Jael Hagerott, set up Ramsey for the game winning kick in the 71st minute and a weekend sweep.
The Pirates have added nine freshmen to their roster this year, many of whom have contributed immediately.
"It's so good to have girls who can step into spots and step up to the challenge," Ramsey said.
Freshmen Emily Rohde, who is out for two weeks with an ankle injury, and Kaylyn Plumb already account for 10 of the 27 Pirate goals this season.
Some of the Pirates early success should also be attributed to the play of Dietz. Dietz already has 14 saves on the season and has given up five goals.
"What can I say, she makes me feel safe," Thibodeau said.
With such an incredible start in the books, there is already a lot of pressure going into this weekend's games. The Pirates will travel to the west side to take on Pacific Lutheran University on September 29th.
In the two teams' last meeting, Whitworth lost 2-0 last year away at PLU.
The women will then end the weekend on the 30th, with a battle of league heavyweights, as they take on the only other undefeated team in the league, the University of Puget Sound.
UPS is currently 8-0 overall and will enter the match as the defending Northwest Conference champions for the fourth year in a row.
The Pirates will look to steal a game on the road against UPS, as the Pirates fell 3-0 in Tacoma last season.
The Pirates' win broke the school record set by the women's team in 1996 and matched by the 2003 team.
"I have every confidence that by the end of next weekend, we will be the only undefeated team in the conference," Thibodeau said.
Contact Jordan Rusk at jordan.rusk@whitwothian.com.
For this reason, The Whitworthian asks readers to be responsible and respectful in any comments posted. The responsibility for statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not the whitworthian.com. Readers are also encouraged to report questionable comments by e-mailing editor@whitworthian.com.
Be the first to comment on this story