By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Lily Bachiochi (So., ATT, Henderson, NV/Coronado HS) produced and Claire Kisielnicki (Fy., ATT, Manitou Springs, CO/Manitou Springs HS) both scored four goals and Willamette University dominated the action in a 17-2 victory over Eastern Oregon University, in the women's lacrosse season opener for both teams on Friday, Feb. 10 at Sparks Field. The Bearcats held a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and owned a 13-0 advantage at halftime. Willamette eventually built a 17-0 lead before the Mountaineers scored the final two goals of the game.
Willamette is 1-0 on the season, while Eastern Oregon is 0-1. The Bearcats improved to 4-1 in season openers. Last year, WU defeated Eastern Oregon 17-6 during the season opener played in La Grande, Oregon.
In Friday's rematch, Willamette's seven goals in the first quarter were scored by five players. Brooklynn Pearl (Fy., MID, Eugene, OR/Willamette HS) scored first with 12:22 on the clock. Bachiochi added a goal just over a minute later at 11:06, while Catie Kawamura tacked on the third goal at the 10:23 mark. The lead reached 4-0 when Kisielnicki scored with 9:41 to play in the quarter.
Maddie Garcia (Sr., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) supplied the next goal as the clock reached 6:35. Kawamura registered her second goal of the game with 1:24 remaining, and Kisielnicki earned her second goal with six seconds left in the quarter for a 7-0 margin.
After Bachiochi opened the second quarter with a goal at the 13:41 mark, Garcia scored again with 9:44 to play in the half. Garcia, Willamette's all-time goal scorer, now has 97 career goals in 32 games played.
Willamette scored four additional goals in the second quarter, starting with a goal by Kawamura with 8:16 left. Bachiochi scored at 7:00, Shea Richardson-Pepper (So., DEF/MID, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) recorded a goal at 2:30, and Bachiochi scored again with 28 seconds to go. Bachiochi tallied three goals in the second quarter and four goals in the half.
Kisielnicki provided two goals in the third quarter, and Garcia scored one goal in between, as Willamette's lead grew to 16-0. Kendyl Jennings (Jr., MID, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) hit the net with WU's final goal at the 11:38 mark of the fourth quarter. Eastern Oregon's goals were recorded by Saydee Hetrick with 6:01 left and by Kate McAfee with 1:21 on the clock.
The four goals each from Bachiochi and Kisielnicki topped Willamette's busy offensive chart. Kawamura and Garcia scored three times. Richardson-Pepper and Jennings each finished with one goal and two assists for the Bearcats.
Catie Mohr (Fy., D, Portland, OR/Wilson HS) played in goal for the Bearcats because starting goalkeeper Shelby Sawyer (Sr., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) was unable to play. Mohr achieved three saves and gained a 1-0 record in goal. Sydney Vopat made seven saves for the Mountaineers while receiving the loss.
WU outshot Eastern Oregon 32-2, including 22-2 in the first half. The Bearcats registered a 24-5 edge in shots on target and ended the game with a perfect clearing percentage (11 of 11). Willamette earned a 14-8 edge in draw controls, including eight by Richardson-Pepper.
The Bearcats were credited with a 15-7 margin in ground balls. Richardson-Pepper led all players on both teams with four ground balls and also caused a game-high three turnovers. Maya Smith paced the Mountaineers with three draw controls, while Kiana Watchman registered two ground balls.
Willamette will play crosstown rival Corban University on Wednesday, Feb. 15. Game time on the Corban campus is set for 6 p.m. (PST).
