SPORTS COMMENTARY

Lucas Myers

For the Review

I was in the gym doing my weekly workout when a story came on ESPN that caught my eye. The story almost knocked me off  my treadmill.

It was about a 13-year-old girl who is a  gifted basketball player. She is so talented that she had been playing in a boys league, but parents soon decided that they didn’t want their boys playing with a 6-foot 1-inch girl who was better than them. Instead, the girl will be forced to play with other girls who will not give her any competition.

The broadcast brought to mind many things that make parents appear unable to stay out of their kids’ sports.

I have played sports since before my memory allows me to venture back, and I remember always seeing parents get way too involved. These parents are usually the ones who were not much involved as children but for some reason they decide to live their athletic careers through their children.

In the aforementioned story, the parents of the boys seem to care more about their own embarrassment than what their children think. From an athlete’s perspective, most kids are not going to care if a girl plays with them; the boys will play and make the girl prove that she can play with them.

The parents should have  stayed on the backburner and let the kids just play their sport. It will still be basketball with or without the girl. A woman deserves to have the same chances men do, and, therefore, the girl should be able to play with tougher competition if that’s what she needs.

This story is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to problems with parents in sports. When a coach takes on an athlete anymore, he isn’t taking just the athlete; he is taking on the parents and any other over-interested family members. I remember being scared to death as a child when my father, the coach, would get screamed at by parents because their child only played three innings of a six-inning game.

My father never had the heart to tell them their child was playing a lot for how good the kids actually were. My father was a great coach who would train us in practice, but when it came to games, he just let us play. Everyone played, but parents were never happy even if their kid was playing, because they were not playing the position the parent wanted them to play. At some point, parents stopped allowing the coach to coach their children and decided, because they pay for their children to play, they are the coach’s boss and need to tell the coach how to do their job.

If this is the way the world works, then it is about time the coaches went to the parents’ house and told the parents how to raise their children.

I may sound biased and, as a coach, I probably am, but it is time our society regressed to realizing that handing a child everything they want will not create success. It used to be that sports could teach an athlete how to advance in the world with a little bit of hard work, but now it seems that sports have become corrupt and have allowed parents to take control of how their children play.

Parents today wonder why our generation is so dependent on them and have trouble leaving the nest, when in reality we can thank them for that. In high school, I had a best friend that I played on the basketball team with. His parents always pushed him to be the best and thought he was NBA-bound from the day he started walking.

His parents didn’t realize he was only 5 foot 7  inches and nowhere near good enough to play college basketball. He had always been coached by his dad and never knew anything besides starting and shooting. When we got to high school, he was expected to make varsity his freshman year, but instead I made varsity and he made the junior varsity team.

His parents were not satisfied with what happened, and took it to the school board to get the coach fired because their child wasn’t where they wanted him to be.

In the end, the coach was not fired and has rebuilt a struggling program back to its elite status.

This is just one example of parents getting too involved in their children’s sports.

I realize that some parents just care about their child and want them to do well, but sometimes parents try to relive their athletic days through their children. Parents can only push a child as far as they want to go, and the next step is not to take it into their own hands. The next step is to let the child do it themselves and allow the child to grow up on
their own.

Katy Thompson

Review Staff Writer

The Oct. 4 home game against George Fox University left a sour taste in the mouths of a few players. While some players were upset they lost their last four matches against George Fox, others realized they could redeem themselves by working to improve their personal shortcomings.

As an individual, junior middle blocker Emily Vuylsteke said her hitting ability is strong but her weakness is not being quick enough on her feet, leaving room for improvement.

Junior defensive specialist Liz Waddell said that the performance in the George Fox game was inconsistent.

“It was a good eye-opener.” she said.

Waddell said the team has always had a strong rivalry playing against the Bruins.

“This time we did some things better than we have done in the previous game against Pacific, but others we did not perform as well as we could have, like our passing skills,” Waddell said. “If we can work on getting good passes, not as sporadically but steadily and consistently, then we would automatically improve our game.”

Vuylsteke said the team is continuously striving to improve their strengths. Waddell and Vuylsteke agreed that having George Fox as an opponent is an incredible source of competition, as they have strengths Linfield lacks.

“George Fox draws upon their team’s ability to be really scrappy,” Waddell said. “Most other teams in our conference do not possess this strength.”

Vuylsteke said she defined “scrappy” as being able to dig a majority of the opposing team’s hits.

“They got every hit up off the ground as often as they possibly could,” she said. “They outplayed us by a just a few points, but I think we can take them next time around.”

Waddell said the highlight of the Linfield and George Fox game was the Wildcats’ persistence.

Vuylsteke finished with a team-high 14 kills and had a .444 kill percentage.

Freshman outside hitter Samantha Lau and senior defensive specialist Rachel Rahn teamed up for 38 defensive digs.

Waddell said this team can fight its way through the most difficult cicumstances.

“There were a few times I thought the game was over, like, when it was 18 to 23, with Linfield being down by five points, we could have given in to them and given up, but we did not,” Waddell said. “Instead, we fought and we made it a tied game at 23. I think this shows the heart our team has to win.”

This attitude of never giving up and pushing through the hard parts of the game may be inspired by the mentality of long-time head coach Shane Kimura.

“Kimura is really in tune with perfecting the fundamentals,” Waddell said. “He breaks it all down into really simple terms, and when you make a mistake, he encourages you to fix it. He is concerned with getting those little details fixed.”

Although Vuylsteke said she appreciates this aspect of Kimura’s coaching style, she thought the highpoint of the season had more to do with the players, not the players’ techniques.

“Rosa Gimson came off the bench and played well in the GFU game and helped our team out,” Vuylsteke said. “She really stepped up her game, and that just proves that we are a well-rounded team and not just fully reliant on our six starters, but we need all the bodies on our bench to come off the bench and play while stepping up their game.”

The players agree that as long as they can avoid getting comfortable with their ranking and keep coming to each game with nothing but their best, they will be able to improve. The women will face off against Whitman College on
Oct. 10 looking for their fourth conference win.

Will Hermens

Review Staff Writer

The men’s and women’s cross country teams placed in the middle of the pack at the season’s largest competitive field at Bush’s Pasture Park during the Willamette Open on Oct. 4.

After hosting a home meet Sept. 26 for the first time in four years, the ’Cats traveled to Salem for the Willamette Open, a meet featuring 30 Division-II, Division-III and NAIA teams. The women’s race had 288 competitors while the men’s had 301.

“It was huge; it was so fast,” senior Amanda DeHaas said, observing from the sidelines after missing another meet because of injuries.

The women’s team has suffered from numerous injuries this season, indicating a lack of preparation before the start of the season, DeHaas said.

The women’s team had a strong showing, placing 14 out of 28 teams in the meet. Led by junior Marci Klimek’s seventh-place finish in the 5k race with a time of 18 minutes, five seconds, the injury-plagued team raced hard in the damp conditions. Klimek’s finish was the fastest ever recorded for a female Linfield runner at the race.

After a heavy dose of rain the night before the meet, the weather cleared, leaving sunny skies at race time. The amount of rainfall the day before the race made the course wet but not significantly enough to be a huge factor.

“The only bad part of the course was around the starting line,” head coach Garry Killgore said.

After Klimek’s seventh-place finish, junior Frances Corcorran finished 69th with a time of 19:36. Finishing just behind Corcorran were teammates freshman Nelly Evans and senior Michelle Harteloo in the 91st and 93rd places, both with a time of 19:45, and Brooke Keudell in 105th with a time of 19:57. Killgore praised the women for the strives taken this year, specifically by Klimek and Corcorran.

“[Klimek] has been in a very hefty workout program,” Killgore said. “She is 38 seconds faster this year at this time than last year.”

Coach Killgore commended Corcorran’s performance and placement at the meet. Being the second fastest finisher on the women’s side after a year and a half of rehab from surgery, she demonstrates the team’s motivation to never be satisfied, he said.

The men’s team, also overcoming injury issues, placed 15 out of 30 teams in the 8k race. Junior Shawn Fisher, the top finisher for Linfield, placed 31st with a time of 25:27. Following Fisher for Linfield were freshman Scott Gage, placing 61st with a time of 26:29, and junior Chris McIsaac in 93rd place with a time of 26:57.

Killgore applauded Gage and McIsaac for their individual efforts.

“I am still impressed in what [McIsaac] did,” Killgore said. “Scott ran a pretty tough race, [too].”

Other top finishers on the men’s team included junior Tyler Davis in 111th place with a time of 27:14 and freshman Eric Weinbender in 118th with a time of 27:22.

With one meet remaining before the conference championship for both teams, Killgore plans to emphasize that running hard all the time is not easy for any individual.

“The emphasis is really getting them out of their comfort zone,” he said. “It hurts to run fast and that is difficult for people.”

Prior the Willamette Open, Klimek had finished first in each of the four races this season.

Both teams will be training hard in the coming week, returning to action Oct. 18 at the Pioneer Open in
Oregon City.

Kurtis Williams

Review Staff Writer

The team had a rough road trip last weekend, losing two games before redeeming themselves Oct. 8.

In their first game, the Wildcats were outmatched against the University of Puget Sound. The Logger’s are ranked No. 4 in the country and expected to win their seventh straight Northwest Conference title.

Despite being outmatched on paper, expectations were high, senior forward Emma Triplett said. “[Head coach Yi Lin Liu] showed us game film from last year and told us we have a better team and that UPS isn’t that good this year,” she said.

And after losing a heartbreaker against strong Whitworth University on Sept. 20, confidence was higher than one would expect.

Four minutes into the game, however, the UPS onslaught began as Loggers junior Janece Levien scored from 20 yards.

In the 14th minute, UPS freshman midfielder Mikaela Freeman scored on an assist from Levien. Five minutes later, Freeman made it 3-0 with an assist from senior midfielder Fiona Gornick.

In the first half, the ’Cats were able to get only one shot off while UPS managed 13. Four of those were saved by sophomore goalkeeper Kelsey Hasselblad.

Triplett said the team’s esteem was still high at halftime despite the deficit.

However, in the second half, the Linfield defense saw more of the same, as UPS fired 12 shots at Hasselblad’s goal. She stopped five in the frame but allowed two in the net.

Freeman got her hat-trick only three minutes into the half on an assist from Levien.

With substitutes in for most of the second half, UPS slowed down the game, focusing on maintaining possession of the ball and working the clock to secure the win.

In the 56th minute, UPS sophomore Kayla Boortz slipped rebound a off of Hasselblad into the back of the net.

Linfield ended the day with two shots and not much offense. Triplett said it was hard to generate offense when the ’Cats were defending UPS in their own half.

This was the first game Linfield played under adverse field conditions, and it resulted in more sloppy plays. It was raining in Tacoma, turning the playing field a into virtual slip-n-slide.

Levien is now the leader in the NWC with 26 points, 11 goals and four assists. Gornick is tied with Levien with four assists. After her Oct. 4 performance, Freeman is third in points and goals with 13 and six, respectively.

Looking ahead to playing George Fox University, Triplett said the team knew they could win if they could play like they were supposed to.

Triplett added that the team was playing for each other and trying to stick together. Despite their best efforts, they ended up on the wrong side of the score sheet again, losing 1-0 on a 61st-minute goal by sophomore midfielder Kirsten Cardwell.

When asked about first- year coach Liu’s substitution habits, Triplett said it was tough for momentum, but the experience is
more valuable.

“He’s big on people playing with fresh legs,” Triplett said.

She said a lot of girls were crying after the game and vaguely alluded to the fact that other issues have put a barrier in front of the team’s focus, playing soccer.

The team played Willamette University on Oct. 8, and was unable to overcome the Bearcats attack, losing 2-1.

Willamette senior midfielder Samantha Post dominated the offense, scoring two goals as Linfield’s defense allowed 25 shots.

Triplett accounted for the ’Cats’ only goal in the 33rd minute.

Hasselblad had 12 saves to keep the game close, but the offense was not able to force the equalizer.

With a conference record of 1-6, the team plays Pacific Lutheran University on Oct. 12 at noon.

The match at home is their only one of the week, which gives them invaluable time to rest up before the long haul of the season sets in.

Greg Larson

Review Staff Writer

The Wildcats had a strong showing Oct. 5 at the George Fox Invitational.

Linfield finished second of three between the George Fox University Bruins and the not-so-statuesque Bearcats from Willamette University.

Competition is high in the Northwest Conference, and the Wildcats proved to be the tougher in the feline matchup of Bearcat and Wildcat, with the Foxes edging out both.

George Fox shot a combined 340, Linfield finished with 354 and Willamette clubbed their way to an even 400 strokes.

The ’Cats were led by junior Brynn Hurdus, who finished the round of 18 holes in 83 strokes. She was followed by freshman Sophie Corr with 85 strokes.

Also golfing for the ’Cats, freshman Lydia Smith finished with an 89, sophomore Katie Kilborn with 97 and freshman Meghan Crowder with 98.

“Our coach told us it is the toughest rated course in Oregon, and our girls did well,” Hurdus said. “There were some tricky holes, but we played through them and finished strongly.”

She said spirits are high on the team and chemistry is playing a major role.

Hurdus’ individual score was good enough for third place at tournament. Corr placed fifth.

With a positive attitude and a strong, young team, Linfield has its post-season sights set on stardom.

“If we all shoot our average or maybe just a bit better, we can make it,” Corr said.

Also, with only one senior, Alicia Zook, on the team, the Wildcats are a group that has several seasons left to mature and coalesce around their coach.

Young talent combined with upperclassmen leadership proves to make Linfield a force to be reckoned with. With individual talents such as Hurdus and Corr and a consistent team, the ’Cats dare to dream big, with a team goal of reaching nationals
this year.

On the docket for the Oct. 18 is the NWC Fall Classic, the most important event of the year, where a good portion of the team’s points are accumulated.

Linfield enjoys a one week break before the tournament, and it will likely use that time to eliminate any lingering problems that have arisen early on in the season.

The team is hopeful about the weather, but prepared to putt in pouring rain.

“We are ready for it,” Hurdus said.

Rachel Mills

Review Staff Writer

After 44 minutes, 12 shots and no goals for head coach Ian Lefebvre’s squad, the first half of the game Oct. 5 was a stalemate, looking like it would end in a 0-0 tie.

But Sophomore midfielder Kevin Donato saw things differently.

With just seconds left in the first half, the Wildcats took a throw-in near midfield. A teammate flicked the ball upfield to Donato as he dashed down the left wing. Donato handled the cross, dribbled around his defenders and shot with two seconds left on the clock.

The ball sailed into the far corner of the net, just past the fingers of University of Puget Sound junior goalkeeper Greg Saetrum, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead and a shot at their first Northwest Conference win.

Linfield sophomore forward Michel Camacho said the second half was harder.

“We had the lead, but we needed to keep it,” he said. “And the wind was against us, so offense was more
difficult.”

The weather did not stop Camacho from trying. Linfield nearly added another goal to their tally in the 74th minute when he sent a ball flying toward Saetrum, but the shot glanced off the post.

The Loggers held their own during the game, taking 14 shots to the Wildcats’ 10. However, only three UPS shots were on target.

Saetrum made five saves during the game and junior Linfield goalkeeper Joe Locascio made three.

Lefebvre said he was pleased with the quality of his players’ performance during the past week.

“They came out with intensity from the beginning,” Lefebvre said.

But he said that intensity seemed to disappear the next day. Donato said he saw a similar problem.

“We weren’t mentally prepared,” he said. “We got frustrated with ourselves and didn’t finish the chances we got.”

The game started out with plenty of action, including six shots from the Wildcats and nine from opponent George Fox University in the first half. The first goal came during the 26th minute when Bruin junior forward Brian Story sent a shot that deflected off Linfield’s Locascio and into the left corner of the net.

Story followed with another goal from the left-hand side in the 31st minute, giving the Bruins a 2-0 lead at halftime.

The Wildcats did their best to come up from behind when Camacho scored in the 51st minute with a shot that bounced off the right post and into the goal.

Within fifteen minutes, the Bruins came back and scored off a cross to freshman forward Brennan Altringer, who was open in the goal box.

Linfield sent a total of seven shots toward George Fox junior goalkeeper Jake Maguire in the second half, but the Bruins emerged with a 3-1 win.

The loss was frustrating for Lefebvre, but he said he still believes Linfield will beat other NWC teams.

“All of the teams are pretty equal,” he said.

Most of the games have been lost within a point or two, Camacho said.

“We just need a little more push, a little more drive,” he said. “We still have a chance.”

During their third game of the week, a home match against Willamette University, the Wildcats received an opportunity to redeem themselves.

The first half held few scoring opportunities. At halftime, the Wildcats were leading in shots six to two.

The second half held more action. In the 65th minute, junior defender Colin Bebee sent a free kick from the defensive third sailing up to Camacho, who dribbled past his defenders and sent the ball flying into the far corner of the net, giving Linfield
a 1-0 lead.

Junior forward Kurtis Wong secured the Wildcats’ victory in the 88th minute. Wong accepted a pass from sophomore forward Zach Hubbard and blasted the ball into the lower left corner of the net, just beyond the reach of Bearcat junior keeper
Mark Bennett. Wong’s goal cemented a second NWC win for the Wildcats.

On Oct. 8, Camacho and Wong both scored for Linfield. The ’Cats defeated Willamette University 2-0. The shutout was made possible by sophomore goalkeeper Jon Thompson, who made six saves.

Both goals were scored in the second half, and Linfield dominated possession of the ball for much of the game, keeping pressure on Willamette’s defense.

The win gave the team a record of 7-5 for the season and 2-4-1 in the NWC.

Donato said he is confident the team will add more wins to their tally.

“We just need to come out more focused and more determined,” said Donato.

He said the combination of the loss to George Fox and the two wins will give the team the determination they need to continue improving to secure their place within the NWC this season.

Linfield’s next match is at home against Pacific Lutheran University on Oct. 12 at
2:30 p.m.

Jordan Jacobo

Sports Editor

In an unusually unproductive offensive display for Linfield, it was the leg of senior placekicker Scott Birkhofer that made the difference, as he accounted for all the points on the scoreboard Oct. 4 against Menlo College.

Birkhofer, an All-American last year, showed power and precision behind his right foot, booting a school-record 54-yard field goal early in the first quarter between the uprights with plenty of room to spare. The kick bested a 53-yard kick of Birkhofer’s from last season that stood as the record.

He scored two other field goals in the first quarter, from 32 and 39 yards, respectively. Those points were enough to win it for Linfield, as the defense stymied Menlo, sneaking by with a 9-0 win.

The ’Cats, enjoying their first conference win this season, move to 2-1 overall and prepare to challenge Whitworth University on Oct. 11 in McMinnville for the annual Homecoming game. Last week, Whitworth lost 32-23 to Willamette University, who was ranked No.23 among NCAA Division-III.

Several of the nagging injuries that have depleted the offensive roster for the ’Cats may have factored into their low-scoring game.

For the third game in a row, Linfield started a new quarterback. Sophomore Cole Bixenman, a third-stringer at the start of the season, completed just seven passes and threw two interceptions as he filled in for injured sophomore Cole Franklin.

“We had a lot of guys playing unique roles for us,” head coach Joe Smith said during an Oct. 6 press conference. “[Bixenman] had to come in and start, and that’s not an easy thing to do.”

Smith said Franklin was doubtful to start, but since then he has been practicing with the team. Whether Franklin starts is likely to be a game-time decision.

Several underclassmen saw significant playing time on the field against the Oaks. Freshmen safety Drew Fisher, wide receiver Buddy Saxon and defensive end Sparky Gonzalez all played well given their relative inexperience, Smith said.

The running back duo of senior Jon Montalvo and sophomore Simon Lamson was a bright spot among the offense. Splitting the workload, they rushed for 131 yards on 28 carries, giving Bixenman a steady balance so he didn’t pass as often.

“We would have liked to get on the board on offense, but I think we played pretty well overall,” Montalvo said.

Much of the game was a battle for field position, with both teams failing to capitalize when moving the ball into scoring territory.

Despite various attempts in different formations by Linfield, senior wide receiver Travis Masters was unable to break out any long plays. He went in motion, ran from the backfield and was spread out wide, but the dynamic playmaker accounted for just 57 yards of total offense.

While the ’Cats offense sputtered, the stingy defense earned its first shutout in seven years. Fisher led the team with 10 tackles, and senior defensive end Taylor Summers haunted the Menlo offensive line, sneaking past for four sacks on the quarterback.

“All we can do is control how we play, we can’t worry about the offense,” junior cornerback Bubba Lemon said.

As the only returning starter among the secondary, Lemon said the defense was able to handle the pressure of the close contest and help out the offense by making a few big plays.

Lemon stopped one of Menlo’s best scoring opportunities late in the second quarter, intercepting a pass from sophomore quarterback Tony Rehn at the 25-yard line.

After notching its second win of the season, the ’Cats have to win just three of their next six games to keep the streak of 53 consecutive winning seasons alive.

Defense will likely be the key to the game against two-time defending NWC champion Whitworth University, who has beat Linfield the last two seasons and consequently kept them out of the playoffs.

Linfield lost both of its last two contests against Whitworth by slim margins. The ’Cats did not allow a single touchdown on offense in either game.

Whitworth junior running back Adam Anderson is a workhorse for the Pirates.

He has accounted for more than half of their total offense so far this
season.

“The guys up front have to control the line of scrimmage,” Smith said. “That’s going to be our big emphasis this week, getting back to basics.”

Lemon said he hopes momentum will give Linfield the edge heading into the game.

“We’re anxious for this game,” he said. “Everybody’s enjoying the feel of the last two games, and we don’t want to lose that. It’s going to propel us.”

Sports Commentary

Matt Jonathan

For the Review

The regular season in Major League Baseball sees each team play more than 160 games. That’s a minimum of 1,440 innings. How many games matter? Possibly the last 20, when things start to get interesting.

Then comes the postseason where everything is finally decided following eight months of play. The postseason is the time when fans get the most excited and games start to heat up. In a league where a single game seems trivial, wins, losses and league records seem insignificant until the last 20 or 30 games when a team really has to pay attention to what they are doing. However, as with most things, there are exceptions.

After an ever-astounding 162 regular season games, the Twins and the White Sox ended up tied. A single-game playoff was needed. While this is not unheard of, I had never known such a result was possible, or that the MLB, which often has gaps of 10-20 games between teams, had a process for breaking a tie.

I actually thought about what a single game in MLB could mean for the two teams. If either team won or lost one more game, this tiebreaker would have been unnecessary. Each team had 162 chances to change their fate. In actuality, the beginning of the season was just as important as the later part. Twins fans will be thinking about all the close games where a single run decided their team’s outcome. White Sox fans will be thinking of 2005 when the Sox won the World Series. Their hopes remain for the season’s grand prize.

But, of course, this is an exception. Look at the rest of the league. There was a 21-game difference between the Los Angeles Angels and the Texas Rangers and a 7.5-game gap between the Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukie Brewers. Three divisions were determined by a gap of one or two games between first and second place.

The gap between first and last was, on average, 27 games in all divisions.

One major question comes out of this: Does MLB need 162 games in a season?

To determine which teams are the best, most likely not; to generate the most revenue, absolutely.

To be fair, a longer season  helps prevent ties similar to the one decided Tuesday night. But is this worth it when games at the beginning of the season seem as close to meaningless as any professional game can be? How many teams look back and say that one game three weeks into the season made a difference? Not many.

MLB, and most American professional sports leagues for that matter, make up for the lack of regular season excitement with playoffs and drama of the postseason. The whole reason behind a wildcard bid is to put in another team to potentially go on a run and create a real-life fairy tale.

This year it is up to the Brewers to be the underdog and get the borderline fans motivated.

Playoffs give teams a fresh start and are practically a season all their own.

My point is further justified through the concept of Division Champions. Division champs are at the end of the regular season, and then teams go onto the new season trying to win the World Series.

Today, we talk about the drawn-out season of the “American pasttime.” Personally, I would prefer a shorter season with plenty of drama, because a shorter season means games would mean more. A team does not have as many opportunities to make up for past screw-ups.

A shorter season means less revenue for the league and franchises as well as fewer games for the die-hard fans. I don’t think a shorter season would detract from or hurt the game for the game’s sake.

It may get the borderline fans, who I like to call “playoff fans,” more into the game. This is just a different perspective and, of course, has pros and cons that can be debated.

With the White Sox and the Twins playing a tiebreaker to determine who goes to the playoffs, I suppose you can’t really say there wasn’t drama before the postseason. We’ll see what the postseason can do. Until then, ignore the stats.

Greg Larson

For the Review

It has been an exhilarating week for the cross country program. With the help of local coordinators from McMinnville Parks and Recreation staff and set-up aid from the Linfield’s women’s basketball squad, the Wildcats hosted a home meet against Western Oregon University on Sept. 26.

The event’s small numbers allowed the runners to develop an air of comfort on the course.  The ’Cats led the way, with the men sweeping the podium with junior Shawn Fisher, freshman Scott Gage, and junior Chris McIsaac.

Linfield was able to enter a healthy team of nine. After getting over some injuries, the team was coming together.

Juniors Marci Klimek and Frances Corcorran took the top two spots on the women’s side.

Fisher and Klimek earned the Northwest Conference Student Athlete of the Week awards. Fisher said though this was a small meet, he feels honored to receive the award.

Linfield had a strong showing in its home meet, winning both the men’s and women’s events.

The men’s team finished with an average time of 27 minutes, 51.81 seconds on the 8k course, and Fisher set the course record with a time of 26:39.44.

The women also sailed to victory, boasting an average time of 24:30.18. All in all, this small home event allowed the runners on both sides to taste victory and feel that they belong at the front of the pack.

The Wildcats look forward to the Willamette Open on Oct. 4. This is the biggest college cross country event west of the Mississippi River. Because of the event’s participation size, there will be high levels of competition.

“This course is very fast,”  head coach Garry Killgore said. “It will be a good mid-season gauge.”

The Willamette course is also the same course the team will race for regionals, so it will be an opportunity for the team to familiarize itself with the course.

These two back-to-back events, although polar opposites, bring a wide range of experience to the Wildcats and help prepare them for the big races such as the NWC Championships on Nov. 1.

Rachel Mills

Review staff writer

The women’s soccer team started its game Sept. 28, confident they would win.

The team gathered for a meeting before the game to discuss goals and strategy, junior forward Rachel Miles said.

“We decided to play for each other,” senior forward Kelli Gillespie said. “There was no question in any of our minds that we were going to win.”

After a frustrating loss the day before against Pacific University, the Wildcats rallied for a victory against Lewis & Clark College, earning their first Northwest Conference victory of the season.

“[The first game] was disappointing,” head coach Yi Lin Liu said.

Though the Wildcats started strong, emerging with a 3-0 lead at halftime, Pacific came back in the second half and cinched a 4-3 win in the final seconds of overtime.

Miles said they had the advantage in the first half, but the team just couldn’t hold onto it.

“We worked so hard,” Gillespie said. “To lose that was so heartbreaking.”

Judging by the numbers, it was Pacific’s game from the start. The Boxers shot 21 times throughout the game to the Wildcats’ 14.

Linfield senior defender Martha Inouye began the game with intensity when she scored off a header after just three minutes. Freshman forward Sarah Walton followed Inouye’s lead with two more goals in the first half.

But the Boxers stepped up during the second period. Seven minutes in, Pacific freshman forward Ashley Carillo put the team on the scoreboard with a header to the upper right corner of the net. Successful shots by sophomore midfielder Jenny Novak and junior midfielder Cheryl Yasumoto tied the game as the second period ended.

In a second overtime, Pacific surged ahead when senior forward Shelley Martindale scored off a corner kick with one second left on the clock.

But Linfield’s upset was tempered by its play against Lewis & Clark.

“We handled the pressure so much better,” Liu said.

He said he was happy to see his team work together, especially under pressure.

The game started as a repeat of Saturday’s, with the Wildcats scoring early and continuing to score throughout the first half. The opening goal came after 12 minutes of play when Miles received a pass from Gillespie on the right. Miles sent a curving ball across the field and toward the far goal post. The Pioneers keeper snagged the ball but not before it passed the line.

A second opportunity presented itself three minutes later when the referee gave the ’Cats an indirect kick near the midfield line. Senior defender Kristine Siler took the kick, sending a ball arcing toward the net.

Both teams scrambled for the ball, and Pioneer goalkeeper freshman Kate MacDougall managed to grab it with the tips of her fingers. But when she lost control, Gillespie darted in and sent the ball flying into the net, putting the ’Cats ahead by two.

In the second half, the Pioneers tried to make a comeback. An indirect kick for Lewis & Clark, taken by senior midfielder Brittany Larson, sent a long cross into the center of the goal box, and freshman midfielder Natalie Stratton ran in to volley the ball into the corner of the net.

Linfield retaliated with another goal, a shot from Miles in the 78th minute. Siler assisted, sending an indirect kick toward the goal.

Others reached for it, but Miles volleyed it into the left side, giving Linfield its final two-point lead.

Though Miles said the NWC contains many good teams who capitalize on the slightest mistake, she is confident they will hold their own.