By Charlie McGuire, Athletics Communications Assistant

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Willamette University women's lacrosse team recorded its fourth straight win, topping host Whitworth University, 16-7, on Saturday, March 11. The Bearcats improve to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the Northwest Conference.  Whitworth falls to 3-5 on the season and 2-3 in the NWC.

The teams traded leads over the first half of the opening quarter. Claire Kisnielnicki (A, Fy., Manitou Springs, CO/Manitou Springs HS) started things off with an assist from Lily Bachiochi (So., ATT,  Henderson, CO/Coronado HS) at the 12:37 mark.

Whitworth scored back-to-back to pull in front before the Bearcats tallied three straight to go back on top, 4-2. Tati Klenk (Sr., ATT, Truckee, CA/Tahoe Truckee HS) scored twice in a span of less than a minute and Catie Mohr (Fy., DEF, Portland, OR/Wilson HS) netted her first of the season with 2:33 remaining in the period.

The Pirates found the net with just one second on the clock and struck in the opening minute of the second quarter to tie the game, 4-4. The game went scoreless until Whitworth took a 5-4 lead with 5:42 to play in the half.

Willamette countered with a 3-0 run to hold a 7-5 advantage at the break. Catie Kawamura (Sr., ATT, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) sandwiched a pair of goals around another strike from Klenk, who also added an assist in the three-goal clip. Bachiochi handed out a pair of assists as well.

The Bearcats took control of the contest in the third period, outscoring the hosts, 5-1, to extend the lead to 12-6. Bachiochi scored and fed Kawamura to extend the margin. Following a free position goal from Whitworth, Kisnielnicki and Bachiochi converted free positions before Maddie Garcia (Sr., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) put one in the net with just over a minute to go in the third.

Bachiochi again scored quickly to start the period. The Bearcats went up, 13-6, at the 12:59 mark and then a seven-minute drought finally came to an end as the Pirates capitalized on a free position. Bachiochi added assists to Klenk and Karamura, and Klenk struck again to close out the scoring with the final of 16-7.

Klenk led all scorers with five goals and one assist. Kawamura added four goals while controlling five draws on the day. Bachiochi finished with six assists to go with three goals and four ground balls. Shea Richardson-Pepper (So., DEF/MID, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) was strong on the draw, controlling seven and picking up three GBs.

Shelby Sawyer (Sr., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) was solid in the nets, making 11 saves for the Bearcats. Willamette went 10-for-14 on clears and held the Pirates to just 6-of-13. The hosts held a slim edge in draws, 13-12, while Willamette had a 29-24 shot advantage.

The Bearcats return to action on Sunday, traveling to Whitman College to close out the weekend. The Blues enter the game with a record of 4-3 with a 3-1 mark in the NWC. Opening draw is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (PDT).