Fast Break: Winter sports starting, Oregon squares up against the city of San Diego

Students of Willamette play a game of pickup soccer with the ducks. Art by Alyssa Diggdon.

Hello, Bearcat Fan! Halloween wasn’t the only thing terrifying Bearcats this weekend, as we suffered a few brutal losses that I’m sure most of us would rather forget. But not all is lost for our few fall sport playoff hopefuls, and winter sports are right around the corner, leaving plenty to celebrate. Let’s find out how things are looking for our ’Cats!

Football had a rough outing against the George Fox Bruins on Saturday, losing 31-9 at home. Despite being within a score of the Bruins at halftime, the ’Cats struggled to get their offense going, recording 131 total offensive yards to Fox’s 382. We’ll get ’em next time, surely.

Men’s cross-country earned the No. 3 spot in NWC championships at Pacific Lutheran on Saturday, with first-year Thomas Bernadicou leading the Bearcats with a No. 7 individual finish. This is the first time since 2017 that the ’Cats have ended the season with a top 3 finish. The women’s side didn’t have enough runners to be considered eligible for team rankings, but Anna Bikle (’26) earned an impressive No. 6 place and Second Team All-Conference recognition to cap off the regular season for XC.

Men’s and women’s swimming competed against Linfield away on Saturday, the men losing by just six points and the women by 30. Jan Beck (’29) and Jillian Price (’28) both secured multiple No. 1 finishes in individual events, but even their performances weren’t enough to overcome the Wildcats.

Volleyball earned a crucial win against the Wildcats at home last Tuesday, coming back after losing the first set to prevail 3-1. Katey Cramer (’26) and Lexie Scott (’28) both recorded an impressive 16 kills to lead the Bearcats’ offense. 

In the wider world of sport: The Portland Timbers narrowly beat San Diego FC in a match that went to a penalty shootout, tying the series up in Round One of the MLS playoffs. The No. 3 Portland Thorns also face San Diego at home on Nov. 9 to kick off the NWSL playoffs, so at least Oregonians have someone to root for right now. That being said, the Trail Blazers are playing shockingly, inexplicably well, sitting at a solid 4-2 record despite some tough early season competition. Time to get delusional about this! The Bears won a football game, the Ducks didn’t play, and the Ohio State Buckeyes are … whatever. Is there even a point writing it still? Oh, and the Dodgers won the World Series in what was possibly the greatest Game 7 in MLB history, and as much as I hate all LA sports, I do have to commend their ability to stage a comeback.

In the coming weeks: Men’s and women’s soccer have their last weekend of competition on Saturday and Sunday, facing the Boxers and the Pios, respectively. Triathlon heads off to Tempe, Arizona for the Collegiate Championships on Saturday. Basketball kicks off their preseasons this week, with the women facing the University of Portland on Nov. 4 and Warner Pacific on Nov. 7. The men face the Pilots on Nov. 3 and La Verne on Nov. 7 as well. Volleyball aims to keep their playoff hopes alive against Lewis & Clark away on Friday and Pacific at home on Saturday.