By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Catie Kawamura (Sr., ATT, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) prevailed on eight draw controls to go along with two goals, and Tati Klenk (Sr., ATT, Truckee, CA/Tahoe Truckee HS) led Willamette University with three goals scored, but the Chapman University Panthers defeated the Bearcats, 18-8, at Sparks Field in a non-conference game on Saturday, March 25. Lily Bachiochi (So., ATT, Henderson, NV/Coronado HS) added two goals and two assists for the Bearcats, while Maddie Garcia (Sr., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) scored once.
The Panthers, from the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), improved to 6-2 on the season. Willamette moved to 7-4 overall.
Chapman surged out to a 5-1 lead in the first quarter. Mei-Lani Ferreira scored the first goal with 8:48 on the clock. Elise Mayor added a free-position goal at 7:34, and Megan Guerra sent a shot into the net at the 4:30 mark, giving the Panthers a 3-0 edge. Parker House scored Chapman's fourth goal with 2:40 left in the quarter and Klenk put Willamette on the scoreboard with 1:49 to go. Bachiochi registered an assist on Klenk's goal. Annika Carlson of Chapman scored the final goal of the quarter with 1:00 remaining.
After Carlson scored again with 12:17 left in the half, Klenk tallied her second goal of the game at 11:19. Garcia scored on a free-position shot during a player-up situation at the 7:34 mark. Chapman was playing shorthanded after Carlson received a yellow card (2-minute penalty) with 8:26 to go. The goal by Klenk released the penalty, and the Panthers gained a 7-3 lead when Guerra tacked on a goal for Chapman at 6:36. The Panthers held a 10-3 lead at the break.
WU outscored Chapman 2-1 in the first nine minutes of the second half, using goals by Kawamua and Bachiochi to pull within 11-5 with 6:11 to play in the third quarter. Willamette was unable to get closer, as the Panthers rattled off four of the next five goals for a 15-6 lead. Anna Klose tallied three of Chapman's five goals in the third quarter. Kawamura and Bachiochi each scored once for the Bearcats in the fourth quarter
During the game, Klose and Carlson of Chapman tied Klenk of Willamette with three goals apiece. Guerra, Ferreira, and Emily Flath each registered two goals for the Panthers.
Chapman achieved a 29-12 margin in total shots. Shelby Sawyer (Sr., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) of Willamette provided the Bearcats with nine saves. Anna Hereu of CU was credited with three saves.
The Panthers claimed a slim 16-14 edge in draw controls and an 18-15 advantage in ground balls. Chapman was 18 of 21 on clear attempts, while WU was successful on 14 of 20 clears.
Kawamura's eight draw controls topped all players, and Jessica Ricketts earned five draw controls for the Panthers. Sophia Lecitra from CU led all players with four caused turnovers. Brielle Moore (Fy., D, San Diego, CA/Valhalla HS) of Willamette forced three turnovers and recorded a team-high four ground balls. Brooklynn Pearl (Fy., MID, Eugene, OR/Willamette HS) was active on Willamette's clears, especially in the second half, when she made several lengthy runs with possession.
The Bearcats are scheduled to play next on Tuesday, April 4, when they will take on California Lutheran University at Sparks Field. Game time is slated for 5 p.m. (PDT).
