By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Catie Kawamura (So., MID, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) and Maddie Garcia (So., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) each contributed four goals to lead the Willamette University Bearcats to an 18-5 victory over Whitworth University in a Northwest Conference women's lacrosse game on Saturday, April 10. The win at Sparks Field advanced Willamette's record to 5-3 on the season, 4-3 in the NWC. Whitworth fell to 0-3 overall, 0-3 in the NWC.
Willamette surged out to an 11-1 lead at the 10:54 mark of the first half. Kendyl Jennings (Fy., MID, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) recorded the game's first goal for WU at 28:12 and Liliann Penfield tied the score for the Pirates at 24:39. The Bearcats tallied the next 10 goals, including four goals by Kawamura. Also scoring as part of the 10-0 outburst were Laura Kellly (Jr., ATT/MID, Mountain View, CA/Mountain View HS) with two goals, Jennings with her second goal, and individual goals by Analise Wilson (Fy., MID, Temecula, CA/Chaparral HS), Garcia, and Anabel Ohsman (Sr., ATT/MID, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS).
The Pirates broke the string of Willamette goals when Kylee Walker scored for Whitworth with 7:36 on the clock. WU answered with three goals before halftime. Garcia registered the first two goals at 5:08 and 3:10. Tati Klenk (So., ATT/MIID, Truckee, CA/Tahoe Truckee HS) earned the final goal of the half with 21 seconds left, giving the Bearcats a 14-2 advantage.
With Willamette leading by double-digits the second half was played with a running clock. Willamette outscored the Pirates 4-3 over the final 30 minutes, starting with a goal by Garcia with 20:15 remaining in the game. Miranda Piros (Jr., ATT/MID, Newberg, OR/Newberg HS) hit the net at 17:17 and Ohsman produced a goal at the 13:50 mark, as WU's margin increased to 17-2.
Whitworth attained its first goal of the second half as penalty against Willamette was expiring with 10:48 to go. The man-up goal was scored by Aunnika Lang. Klenk supplied the next goal for Willamette with 6:57 on the clock, before Walker and Jenae Mercado completed the scoring for the Pirates.
Shelby Sawyer (So., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) and Katie Hill (So., GK, Belmont, CA/Carmont HS) each played 30 minutes in goal for the Bearcats. Sawyer registered four save in the first half. Hill earned six saves in the second half. Whitworth goalkeeper Tori Shauer finished with one save.
The Bearcats outshot Whitworth 19-9 in the first half and 25-19 overall. Willamette achieved a 15-8 edge in draw controls, while the Pirates held an 23-18 advantage in ground balls. WU scored six free position goals and the Bearcats limited Whitworth to one free position goal.
Willamette will take on the Pirates again on Sunday, April 11. Game time at Sparks Field is set for 1 p.m. (PDT).