By Charlie McGuire, Athletics Communications Assistant

SALEM, Ore. - The Willamette University women's lacrosse team was picked to finish second while George Fox has been selected as the Northwest Conference frontrunner for the 2022 season. The Bruins earned 35 points and five first-place votes while Willamette received 31 points and two first-place votes, as voted on by conference head coaches. 

Linfield received 26 points for third, with Whitman closely behind with 20 points. Puget Sound (17 pts), Pacific (Ore.) (12 pts) and Whitworth (6 pts) round out the poll.

Willamette is coming off a strong return in 2021, after missing most of the 2020 season due to COVID-19. The Bearcats posted an 8-3 record last spring, finishing tied for second in the NWC standings. Head Coach Sarah Lautenbach, the 2021 NWC Coach of the Year, returns an experienced line up, featuring seven Bearcats who received All-Northwest Conference recognition last spring.

Leading the attack is junior midfielder Maddie Garcia (Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy). She was named Second Team All-West Region after earning First Team All-NWC honors last season. Garcia led the Bearcats with 41 goals, ranking fourth in the NWC in scoring.

First Team All-NWC selections Catie Kawamura (Jr., ATT, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) and Emma Canchola (Sr., DEF, Oregon City OR/Oregon City HS) give the Bearcats veteran leadership on both ends of the field. Kawamura topped Willamette's scoring chart with 47 total points. She ranked second for the Bearcats with 31 goals and tied with a team-best 16 assists. She led WU with 48 draw controls and ranked fourth in the NWC in assists and draws.

Canchola was selected First Team All-NWC for the second time after also receiving the honor in 2019. She set Willamette's single season record for ground balls with 66 in 2019 and holds the school record with 109 ground balls during her career to go along with 54 draw controls and 49 caused turnovers.

The Bearcats returned three Second Team All-NWC picks from 20211. Junior Kiana Gottschalk (Bend, OR/Bend HS) was a steady defender for Willamette, starting all 11 games, controlling 20 ground balls and forcing seven turnovers last season.

Junior goalkeeper Shelby Sawyer (Jr., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) was in goal for 446 minutes last spring and recorded a 9.55 goals against average, holding opponents to less than 10 goals in five games.

As a first-year player last season, Analise Wilson (So., Temecula, CA/Chaparral HS) was a standout in the midfield. She led Willamette with 20 caused turnovers and ranked second with 46 draw controls. She was second on the team with 37 ground balls, adding 18 goals and one assist on the offensive end of the field.

Returning this spring after receiving Honorable Mention All-NWC last year is senior attacker Laura Kelly (Mountain View, CA/Mountain View HS). Kelly has played in 30 games as a Bearcat, earning 27 starts. She scored 14 goals and produced seven assists in 2021, finding the net five times in a win over Whitworth.

Willamette opened the season with a big win at Eastern Oregon University on Saturday, Feb. 19, outscoring the Mountaineers 17-6. Kawamura led the way with four goals while Lily Bachiochi (Fy., ATT, Henderson, NV/Coronado HS) contributed three goals and three assists in her collegiate debut.

The Bearcats will play a 12-game schedule in the NWC in 2022. They open conference play on Saturday, March 5th, hosting Whitworth at 1 p.m. (PST)