By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University will battle against Whitworth University in the semifinals of the 2024 Northwest Conference Women's Lacrosse Tournament on Saturday, May 4 in Newberg, Oregon. Game time is set for 3 p.m. PDT. It will be the third meeting between the Bearcats and the Pirates since April 7 and the second meeting in one week. The winner will advance to the NWC Tournament Championship game, set for Sunday, May 5 at 1 p.m.

Prior to the Willamette versus Whitworth game on Saturday, the first semifinal game will be played between George Fox University and Whitman College at 1 p.m. PDT in Newberg. The winner of the first semifinal will meet the winner of the second semifinal in the NWC Tournament Championship game.

In both of this year's previous games, Willamette held on for a win over the Pirates. On April 7 in Salem, Oregon, Willamette led 14-6 with 10:16 remaining in the game and stopped a rally by Whitworth for a 14-11 victory. On April 28 in Spokane, Washington, the Bearcats took a 12-9 lead on a goal by Lily Bachiochi (Jr., ATT, Henderson, NV/Coronado HS) with 4:38 left, but the Pirates scored at 2:48 and 1:35 to pull within 12-11. The Bearcats remained in front for a one-goal win.

Each of the first two meetings ended with Willamette playing short-handed due to injuries and penalty accumulation. In this weekend's game, the Bearcats hope to remain at full strength throughout the NWC Tournament match-up.

Willamette enters the tournament with a 13-3 overall record and a 10-2 record in the NWC. The Bearcats finished second behind George Fox in the NWC regular season standings. Whitworth, which finished third in the NWC, is 11-5 overall, 8-4 in the NWC.

Bachiochi is the top scorer for the Bearcats with 62 goals and 50 assists for 112 points. The 50 assists and 112 points are school records. Bachichi also holds Willamette career records with 146 goals, 129 assists, and 275 points. She leads the NWC with 3.13 assists and 7.00 points per game this season, and is second with 3.88 goals per game.

Other top scorers for the Bearcats are Claire Kisielnicki (So., ATT, Manitou Springs, CO/Manitou Springs HS) with 42 goals and six assists for 48 points, Brooklynn Pearl (So., MID, Eugene, OR/Willamette HS) with 40 goals and five assists for 45 points, and Alyssa Molisee (Fy., MID/ATT, Henderson, NV/Nevada State HS) who has earned 39 goals and four assists to contribute 43 points.

Willamette goalkeeper Olivia Austin (Fy., San Diego, CA/La Jolla HS) owns a 13-3 record and has accumulated 93 saves to go along with an 8.. She made key saves late in the fourth quarter in both wins against Whitworth, and finished with a career-high 13 saves in last weekend's game.

The Bearcats hold a 248-200 advantage in draw controls this year, led by Cedric Shaw (Fy., MID, Jamul, CA/Valhalla HS) with 85 draw controls and by Pearl with 62. Willamette also owns a 350-237 margin in ground balls. Jay Shiflett (Fy., DEF, Glen Burnie, MD/Old Mill HS) tops the Bearcats with 41 ground balls and is followed closely by Pearl and Shea Richardson-Pepper (Jr., DEF/MID, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS), both with 39 ground balls.

Willamette has gained an edge on defense this year with 180 caused turnovers, including 36 caused by Shiflett and 19 by Richardson-Pepper. The Bearcats have scored 269 goals and allowed 131 goals.

Rebecca Irwin leads Whitworth in total scoring with 62 points on 38 goals and 24 assists. Campbell Vincent is second with 60 points, after recording a team-high 54 goals and six assists. Abby Hahn has tallied 26 goals and 23 assists on the season. Goalkeeper Sage Fosnock has provided the Pirates with an 11-5 record, 123 saves, and a 10.17 goals against average.

Kenzie Hemman ranks first for Whitworth with 88 draw controls, 46 ground balls, and 23 caused turnovers. Hemman also has contributed 25 goals and 11 assists.