By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University women's lacrosse team started the 2020 season with a 2-1 record, including 2-0 in the Northwest Conference, before the rest of the season was canceled. During the three games the Bearcats played, goalkeepers Katie Hill (Fy., GK, Belmont, CA/Carmont HS) and Shelby Sawyer (Fy., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) combined for a .532 team save percentage that ranked 31st out of 283 teams in NCAA Division III. All rankings are unofficial since teams were unable to complete most of their schedules.
Hill and Sawyer registered a combined 33 saves, with Shelby earning 17 and Hill adding 16. The .532 save percentage was achieved as the goalies faced a total of 62 shots on goal. in the three games.
Victoria Glidden (Fr., MID/DEF, Dover, NH/Phillips Exeter Academy) ranked 134th in NCAA Divison III with 3.67 ground balls per game. Glidden provided the Bearcats with 11 ground balls overall.
Willamette received several other key performances during the season on offense and defense.
On the attack, Miranda Piros (So., ATT/MID, Newberg, OR/Newberg HS) and Catie Kawamura (Fy., MID, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) each scored a team-high nine goals. Piros also contributed two assists for 11 total points. Kawamura added one assist for 10 points. Maddie Garcia (Fy., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Diegito Academy). who scored six goals, topped the chart with 17 total shots. Piros recorded 16 shots and Kawamura amassed 14 shots. All 14 of Kawamura's shots were on target.
On defense, Emma Canchola (So., DEF, Oregon City OR/Oregon City HS), Ali Mackie (So., DEF, Santa Cruz, CA/Georgiana Bruce Kirby Prep), and Garcia tied for the team lead with three caused turnovers. In goal. Sawyer earned a 7.87 goals against averge and a 1-0 record. Hill had an 11.87 GAA to go along with a 1-1 record. The Bearcats allowed 9.67 goals per game.
The team's top draw control winner was Kawsamura with 10. Canchola produced 10 draw controls. Glidden's 11 grounds balls were followed by six from Anabel Ohsman (Jr., ATT/MID, Shohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS). Hill, Piros and Emmett Blaney (Sr., DEF, Buffalo, WY/Buffalo HS) each accumulated five ground balls.
