By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University and Linfield College were tied 3-3 in a Northwest Conference women's lacrosse game on Sunday, March 31 with 15:13 left in the first half after Anabel Ohsman (So., ATT, Shohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS) scored a goal for the Bearcats. Linfield earned the next nine goals -- seven before halftime and two in the first few minutes of the second half -- to seize momentum with a 12-3 lead on its way to an 18-6 win over the Bearcats.
The Wildcats advanced their record to 3-4 on the season, 2-1 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 3-6 overall, 1-3 in the NWC. It was the Bearcats' fifth game in eight days, including three games in Texas from March 24 through March 27 and games on back-to-back days this weekend.
Just over seven minutes into the game, Josie Duey scored for Linfield. She added another goal at 21:46, as the Wildcats took a 2-0 lead. Miranda Piros (Fr., MID, Newberg, OR/Newberg HS) put in a goal for the Bearcats with an assist from Ohsman at 20:07. Duey tallied her third goal on a free position shot at 19:12 to give Linfield a 3-1 advantage.
Willamette wiped out Linfield's lead with goals from Piros at 17:53 and Ohsman at 15:13. A little over two minutes passed without either team scoring, before Bethany Shade scored back-to-back goals for the Wildcats to open their 9-0 run. Shaded tacked on two more goals before halftime to help Linfield increase its lead to 10-3.
Maia Rezoski and Jenna Hessel scored 80 seconds apart in the second half to complete the run and put Linfield in front 12-3 with 26:29 to go.
Alayna Newland (So., ATT, Everett, WA/Archbishop Murphy HS) of Willamette broke the string of goals by winning the ensuing draw control and scoring 15 seconds later. The Wildcats responded with three goals in a row for a 15-4 lead with 21:17 remaining. Two of the goals were scored by Duey, giving her a team-high five goals in the game.
Other key scorers for Linfield on the afternoon were Shade and Gabriella Moe with four goals apiece, and Rezoski with three goals. Piros, Ohsman and Newland each scored two goals for Willamette. Ohsman leads the Bearcats with 27 goals on the season, while Piros has scored 19 times.
Willamette goalkeeper Kara Phillips (Sr., GK, Kirkland, WA/Lake Washington HS) set a school record with 16 saves, including 13 saves in the first half. Linfield goalies Kylee Duey and Epi Roldan-Rayo split time in the nets at 30 minutes each. Both goalies registered four saves.
The Wildcats outshot the Bearcats 38-17 overall and gained an 18-8 edge in draw controls. Even so, Ohsman and Piros each took five shots for the Bearcats. On defense, Emma Canchola (Fr., DEF, Oregon City OR/Oregon City HS) registered six ground balls and four forced turnovers. Shade and Josie Duey each recorded six draw controls for Linfield, while Ohsman earned five draws for Willamette.
Next weekend, the Bearcats will play NWC games at Whitworth University and Whitman College. The Bearcats meet Whitworth in Spokane, Washington, on Saturday, April 6 at 1 p.m. (PDT). Willamette and Whitworth are both competing in their first season of lacrosse. On Sunday, April 7, Willamette takes on Whitman in Walla Walla, Washington, at 1 p.m.
Big Moment of the Game for Willamette
Anabel Ohsman tied for the team lead with two goals and one
assist against the Wildcats. She scored her first goal with 15:13
left in the first half to tie Linfield at 3-3. She earned her second
goal with 18:10 remaining in the game. In addition, Ohsman led
the Bearcats with five draw controls. For the season, she ranks
first on the team with 27 goals.