By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- A trio of Bearcats topped the statistics for Willamette University in a 20-3 victory over the University of Puget Sound on Wednesday, April 10. Lily Bachiochi (Jr., ATT, Henderson, NV/Coronado HS) scored four goals and six assists for 10 points, Shea Richardson-Pepper (Jr., DEF/MID, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) hit the nets for six goals, and Brooklynn Pearl (So., MID, Eugene, OR/Willamette HS) scored three goals while leading all players with 11 draw controls.
The win at Sparks Field improved Willamette to 9-2 on the season, 6-1 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats have won six consecutive games, including their last four NWC match-ups.
Bachiochi, Richardson-Pepper, and Pearl spearheaded Willamette's strong play against the Loggers, but the trio was not alone. Alyssa Molisee (Fy., MID/ATT, Henderson, NV/Nevada State HS) tallied four goals and grabbed five draw controls. Syd Shoemaker (Fy., DEF, Reno, NV/Robert McQueen HS) earned four ground balls and four caused turnovers, while Kendyl Jennings (Sr., MID, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) provided three goals, one assist, and three ground balls. Pearl tied Shoemaker for the team lead with four ground balls.
Goalkeeper Olivia Austin (Fy., GK, San Diego, CA/La Jolla HS) recorded three saves while playing all 60 minutes. She has accumulated 61 saves this season.l
The Bearcats took charge of the game with seven goals in the first eight minutes . Richardson-Pepper scored three of the goals, including the opening goal at 12:53 with an assist from Bachiochi. Molisee added two goals during the 7-0, while Bachiochi and Pearl each scored once. After Mimi Carrier-Berndt scored for the Loggers with 5:47 left in the first quarter, Willamette added a goal by Richardson-Pepper at 1:26 and Jennings scored with 23 seconds remaining for a 9-1 lead at the end of the first quarter
Bachiochi scored the only two goals by either team in the second quarter, increasing WU's lead to 11-1. At the half, Bachiochi had three goals and two assists, while Richardson-Pepper owned four goals. The Bearcats outscored Puget Sound 4-1 in the third quarter and 5-1 in the fourth quarter.
With her four goals and six assists, Bachiochi increased her season totals to 41 goals and 35 assists. Richardson-Pepper has scored 27 goals this year.
Willamette outshot the Loggers 38-10 overall and 29-6 in shots on goal. The Bearcats held a 20-5 margin in draw controls and finished with 20 ground balls while Puget Sound earned 12 ground balls. PS goalkeeper Phoebe Crowther played the first three quarters and provided the Loggers with six saves. Bianca Nolan played the final 15 minutes in goal and registered three saves.
The next game for the Willamette women's lacrosse team will be on Monday, April 15 at Pacific University. The NWC game is set for 6 p.m. PDT in Forest Grove, Oregon.
