By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Miranda Piros (Fr., MID, Newberg, OR/Newberg HS) recorded her fifth hat trick of the season by scoring three goals for Willamette University, but Linfield College kept the rest of the Bearcats off the scoreboard, as the Wildcats won a Northwest Conference women's lacrosse game, 18-3, on Sunday, April 21 at Maxwell Field. Linfield advanced its record to 9-5 overall, 8-2 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 5-10 on the season, 3-7 in the NWC.

Piros entered the game with four hat tricks already in the books. She scored four goals in the season-opening win over Johnson & Wales University (Colo.), then earned three goals against Wartburg College (Iowa). She also registered hat tricks against Pacific University (7 goals) on March 30 and Whitworth University (5 goals) on April 6. Against Linfield on Sunday, Piros scored once in the first half and twice in the second half. Piros is Willamette's second-leading scorer with 32 goals on the season.

Linfield scored five goals by five different players in the first 6:18 of the game and held a 7-0 lead with 21:04 on the clock. Piros scored next at 17:53, but the Wildcats led 15-1 at halftime, including a goal that was scored as time expired. Piros completed her hat trick on goals with 11:51 and 4:14 left in the game. The second of her three goals was scored on a free position shot.

Bethany Shade topped Linfield's scoring chart with four goals and three assists. Maia Rezoski, Molly Herrera and Jenna Hessel each contributed three goals. Nthaly Sanchez finished with two goals and three assists.

A 16-5 edge in draw controls helped the Wildcats outshoot the Bearcats 40-10 overall and 28-8 in shots on goal. The ground ball totals were relatively close, as Linfield recorded 24 and Willamette earned 18. Willamette goalie Kara Phillips (Sr., GK, Kirkland, WA/Lake Washington HS) registered 10 saves. Linfield goalies Kylee Duey and Epi Roldan-Rayo split time in the nets, with Duey making three saves in the first half and Roldan-Rayo providing two saves in the second half.

In addition to her strong game on offense, Shade supplied the Wildcats with seven ground ball, six draw controls and five caused turnovers. Gabriella Mose added seven draw controls. For Willamette, Bridget Blaney (Jr., DEF, Buffalo, WY/Buffalo HS) attained seven ground balls and forced two turnovers. Piros achieved three draw controls.

Willamette completed a string of six consecutive road games. The Bearcats, who have not played at Sparks Field on the Willamette campus since playing Linfield on March 31, will host Whitworth University on Saturday, April 27 at 1 p.m. (PDT). Willamette and Whitworth are both in their first season of intercollegiate lacrosse competition. The Bearcats defeated the Pirates, 13-9, in Spokane, Washington, on April 6 to start the recent road swing.

After taking on Whitworth, the Bearcats will host Whitman College on Sunday, April 28 in the final game of the season. It will be Senior Day for the Bearcats, who will honor the seniors on this year's team. Game time is set for 1 p.m.

Big Moment of the Game for Willamette

Miranda Piros scored three goals for a hat trick against the
Willdcats. She earned her first goals with 17:53 left in the first
half, and then added two goals in the second half. It was her fifth
hat trick of the season. Piros is Willamette's second-leading
scorer with 32 goals this year.