By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

NEWBERG, Ore. -- Senior attackers Catie Kawamura (San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) and Tati Klenk (Truckee, CA/Tahoe Truckee HS) combined to score seven goals against George Fox University in the first-ever NWC Tournament Championship game on Sunday, April 23, but the Bruins defeated the Bearcats, 20-12, at the Austin Sports Complex. Kawamura produced four goals and Klenk contributed three goals.

GFU, now 17-1, claimed the NWC Tournament title and received the NWC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Tournament. Willamette concluded a very successful season with a 13-5 record, including a tie for second place in the NWC regular season standings at 9-3.

"The team played with pride and grit today. Our seniors rallied and led the charge," Willlamette Head Women's Lacrosse Coach Sarah Lautenbach said. "As a coaching staff, we will never forget their efforts and competitive spirit that led us to that point. While I could talk about all the challenges of the year, I'd rather focus on how we showed up, made no excuses, and figured out a way to succeed all season. Despite the score of the game, the team was not afraid to win or lose. They had the courage to show up to compete for all 60 minutes. I know they will never forget this experience."

Willamette, George Fox, Whitman College, and Whitworth University were the four teams to qualify for the first-ever NWC Tournament in women's lacrosse. In the semifinals on Saturday, April 22, Willamette edged Whitman 14-13 in overtime and George Fox downed Whitworth 20-2.

The score was tied at 1-1 early in the game following goals by GFU's Carleigh DeLapp and Willamette's Klenk. George Fox scored three consecutive goals, two by Marena Tharpe, to take a 4-1 lead. Willamette reduced the margin to 4-3 later in the first quarter on scores by Shea Richardson-Pepper (So., DEF/MID, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) and Klenk. The Bruins ended the quarter with a 6-3 advantage.

GFU gradually extended its lead in the second quarter, eventually claiming an 11-4 lead on a goal by Tharpe with 3:59 remaining, but Kawamura scored for WU just 28 seconds later to pull within 11-5 at halftime.

Willamette earned the first goal of the third quarter on a shot by Claire Kisielnicki (Fy., ATT, Manitou Springs, CO/Manitou Springs HS) at the 13:32 mark. The Bruins scored next and maintained a lead of six to seven goals throughout the quarter, despite two goals by Kawamura. GFU was in front, 14-8, as the fourth quarter started.

Tharpe scored the first goal of the fourth quarter for a 15-8 lead, but the Bearcats continued to battle and tallied three unanswered goals to pull within 15-11. The goals were scored by Bachiochi at 12:40, Klenk at 11:00, and Richardson-Pepper with 10:12 left.

George Fox outscored Willamette 5-1 during the remainder of the game to claim the final score.

Kawamura led the Bearcats with five points on four goals and one assist. Klenk added her three goals, while Bachiochi provided two goals and one assist. The assist was Bachiochi's team-leading 40th of the year, setting a Willamette season record, breaking the old record of 39 set by Bachiochi last spring.

Richardson-Pepper finished with two goals during the game, while Kiselnicki scored once. Maddie Garcia topped the Bearcats with four ground balls. Kawamura led the team with four draw controls.

Klenk scored a school record 70 goals this year. Garcia established a school record for career goals with 138, one more than Kawamura's 137 goals. Kawamura also achieved 35 career assists and ranks first all-time for the Bearcats with 172 total points.

WU goalkeeper Shelby Sawyer (Sr., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) accumulated 16 saves for the Bearcats. She set a school record with 196 saves this season and also set the career mark with 405 saves. GFU goalie Emma Webb registered 13 saves.

Ava Bluhm and Olivia Geylling paced the Bruins with five goals apiece. Geyling also supplied three assists for eight total points. Kyra Barnes was credited with three goals and five assists, while Tharpe amassed four goals and three assists.

The Bruins outshot the Bearcats 42-30, but Willamette held a 20-18 edge in the second half. George Fox achieved a 23-13 margin in draw controls. Willamette was a solid 6 for 9 (66.7%) on free position shots and GFU was 1 for 4. Both teams excelled on clears, as Willamette was successful on 15 of 20 and GFU went 12 for 16.