By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Maddie Garcia (Sr., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) scored four goals for Willamette University in a Northwest Conference women's lacrosse game against Whitman College, but the Blues built a 6-1 early lead and defeated the Bearcats, 19-9. Willamette moved to 6-2 on the season, 4-2 in the NWC. Whitman advanced its record to 5-3 overall, 4-1 in the NWC.

The Blues won 10 of 11 draw controls in the first quarter, which helped Whitman score six of the first seven goals on its way to a 7-3 lead after 15 minutes of play. Whitman earned the first three goals of the second quarter to expand the margin to 10-3 with 4:55 left in the half. Erin Magnuson tallied three of the Blues' first 10 goals, while Eliza Daigle provided two of the goals. Willamette pulled within 10-4 on Garcias' first goal of the game with 3:14 to go in the second quarter. Neither team scored in the final three minutes of the half.

In addition to Garcia, other Bearcats with a goal in the first half were Lily Bachiochi (So., ATT, Henderson, NV/Coronado HS), Catie Kawamura (Sr., ATT, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies), and Tati Klenk (Sr., ATT, Truckee, CA/Tahoe Truckee HS).

After Madeleine Sherry scored a goal for Whitman at the 13:25 mark in the third quarter, Garcia registered her second goal 50 seconds later to pull Willamette within 11-5. The Blues tacked on two scores later in the quarter. Garcia put the ball into the net with 15 second left. Whitman owned a 13-6 advantage at the start of the fourth quarter.

The Blues scored their 14th goal with 14:22 to play in the game. Willamette answered with goals by Klenk and Garcia at 13:49 and 13:12 to reduce the margin to six goals at 14-8. Whitman closed out the game with a 5-1 run to secure the NWC win.

Willamette's attack was led by Garcia's four goals along with two goals by Klenk. Shea Richardson-Pepper (So., DEF/MID, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) and Klenk tied for the team lead with three ground balls, while Kawamura topped the Bearcats with five draw controls. Brooklynn Pearl (Fy., MID, Eugene, OR/Willamette HS) supplied four drawn controls. Kiana Gottschalk (Sr., DEF, Bend, OR/Bend HS) of Willamette led all players with five caused turnovers.

Daigle finished with five goals and four assists for the Blues. Magnuson also scored five goals, while Sherry contributed four goals. Gracie Maulik scored twice. Magnuson took a game-high 22 shots, including 16 shots on goal. The Blues outshot Willamette 49-22 and ended the game with a 22-11 margin in draw controls. Whitman earned a slim 19-16 edge in ground balls.

Shelby Sawyer (Sr., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) achieved 14 saves for the Bearcats. Whitman goalie Korin Wheaton was credited with four saves.

Willamette will return to NWC action on Saturday, March 18 at George Fox University. Game time in Newberg, Oregon, is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PDT).