By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Tati Klenk (Sr., ATT, Truckee, CA/Tahoe Truckee HS) scored five goals to go with one assist, and teammate Lily Bachiochi (So., ATT, Henderson, NV/Coronado HS) provided five goals and two assists, as Willamette University defeated nearby rival Linfield University, 15-10, in a Northwest Conference women's lacrosse game at Sparke Field on Sunday, March 5. Willamette upped its record to 5-1 on the season, 3-1 in the NWC. Linfield ended the game at 0-5 overall, 0-4 in the NWC.

Klenk and Bachiochi each finished with six total points to lead Willamette's attack which outshot the Wildcats, 27-18, including 25-14 in shots on goal. Maddie Garcia (Sr., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) chipped in with three goals, while Claire Kisielnicki (Fy., ATT, Manitou Springs, CO/Manitou Springs HS) earned two goals. Catie Kawamura (Sr., ATT, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) scored one goal, while Kendyl Jennings (Jr., MID, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) tallied one assist.

Linfield was led by Gabby Crist with five goals on five shots. Maranda Tucker finished with two goals and one assist. Erynn McCurdy recorded two goals and Mackenzie Kulick achieved one goal.

Willamette started the game with a blistering attack, as the Bearcats scored seven goals on eight shots during the first quarter. The Bearcats earned the first three goals on shots by Klenk at 13:38, Bachiochi at 12:39, and Kiselnick at 11:34. McCurdy recorded the Wildcats' first goal just over three minutes later at 8:07. Kisielnicki responded with the next goal at 6:04 and the Bearcats tacked on three more scores before ending the quarter with a 7-1 lead.

Kawamura added another goal for Willamette early in the second quarter for an 8-1 edge. Crsit registered her first goal of the game for Linfield to reduce the margin to six goals, but Garcia scored next for WU at the 10:16 mark for a 9-2 lead. The score remained the same until Garcia put in another goal at the 6:42 mark. Klenk scored at 4:09 on a free position shot, giving the Bearcats an 11-2 lead at the break.

Both teams scored three goals in the third quarter. Klenk opened the scoring with her fourth goal of the game on a free position shot at 14:11 to increase WU's margin to 12-2. Crist earned the next two goals for Linfield, as the Wildcats pulled within 12-4. McCurdy scored about five minutes later for Linfield at 5:30, but Bachiochi registered back-to-back goals for the Bearcats at 4:19 and 1:51 to boost the lead to 14-5.

Linfield outscored the Bearcats 5-1 in the fourth quarter, but never got closer than the final five-goal margin. Klenk provided Willamette's goal with 8:16 remaining for a 15-7 advantage. Crist and Leah Stednick each scored two goals in the quarter for the Wildcats. 

Willamette goalkeeper Shelby Sawyer (Sr., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) contributed foru saves while improving to 4-1 with the win. Two goalies played for the Wildcats, with Tenley Hodge recording one save in the first quarter and Caity Babcock adding nine saves during the final three quarters.

The Bearcats held a 30-20 margin in ground balls and a 16-13 edge in draw controls. Garcia was credited with five ground balls and five draw controls. Jade Kampen (Sr., DEF, Eugene, OR/South Eugene HS) also registered five ground balls. Kawamura led all players with eight draw controls.

Jennings helped the Bearcats on defense by earning three caused turnovers. Garcia, Kawamura, and Kiana Gottschalk (Sr., DEF, Bend, OR/Bend HS) each caused two turnovers. Grace Miller of Linfield finished with a game-high four caused turnovers.

WU will play again on Saturday, March 11 when they are scheduled to take on Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. Game time is slated for 1 p.m. (PST).