By Charlie McGuire, Athletics Communications Assistant

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The Willamette University women's lacrosse team strung together a couple of big scoring runs to post a 19-11 win at California Lutheran University on Friday, March 29. The Bearcats pulled in front late in the first quarter and outscored the hosts 6-0 in the third quarter to improve to 7-2 on the season.

The teams traded goals to start the game before the Bearcats finished with a 2-0 run to pull in front, 5-3, at the end of the first quarter. Alyssa Molisee (Fy., M/A, Henderson, NV/Nevada State HS) struck first, scoring off an assist from Lily Bachiochi (Jr., A, Henderson, NV/Coronado HS) at the 10:56 mark.

The Regals tallied back-to-back goals to take a 2-1 lead with 8:47 remaining in the first period. Willamette then answered with a pair of shorthanded goals as Molisee scored her second of the game and Shea Richardson-Pepper (Jr., D/M, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) found the net at the 6:56 mark to give the visitors a 3-2 advantage.

Just 28 seconds later Giselle Bonisilla connected with Sydney Shin to pull the Regals back even. The Bearcats capitalized with a pair of extra-man goals to close out the first. Claire Kisielnicki (So., A, Manitou Springs, CO/Manitou Springs HS) and Brooklynn Pearl (So., M, Eugene, OR/Willamette HS) added goals in the final 5:48 to give Willamette a 5-3 lead.

The Bearcats continued the run to start the second quarter. Kisielnicki and Pearl went back-to-back in a span of just nine seconds to stretch the margin to 7-3 with 10:41 to play in the half. Meghan Angus recorded an assist and a goal to cut Cal-Lutheran's deficit to 7-5.

Pearl scored twice to trigger a 4-0 run for the Bearcats. Bachiochi followed up with an assist to Molisee before netting an unassisted goal with 1:28 on the clock. Shin answered with just 19 seconds to go to make the score 11-6 at halftime.

After the break it was all the Bearcats as they outscored the Regals 6-0 in the third quarter to take control of the game at 17-6. Bachiochi sandwiched a pair of goals around a tally from Cedric Shaw (Fy., M, Jamul, CA/Valhalla HS) in the opening four minutes of the second half. Kisielnicki earned the hat-trick with her third goal of the game before Bachiochi dished out assists to Shaw and Molisee.

Bachiochi found Kendyl Jennings (Sr., M, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) early in the fourth quarter before Cal-Lutheran looked to rally with a 4-0 run. Four different Regals scored to make the score 18-10 with 2:38 to play in the game. Bachiochi closed out the scoring for Willamette and Shin assisted Madison Soforenko to make the final score 19-11.

Bachiochi led the attack with four goals and five assists. Molisee tallied four goals as well while three Bearcats recorded hat-tricks. Shaw scored three times on three shots and Kisielnicki and Pearl finished with three goals each. Pearl, Shaw and Molisee were strong on the circle, each controlling four draws.

Richardson-Pepper and Jay Shiflett (Fy., D, Glen Burnie, MD/Old Mill HS) each controlled three ground balls with Pepper-Richardson adding a pair of draw controls. First-year goalkeeper Olivia Austin (San Diego, CA/La Jolla HS) made three saves and picked up three ground balls behind a strong defensive effort.  

The Bearcats return to action next Saturday with a Northwest Conference match-up on April 6. They will host Whitman College on Sparks field with the opening draw scheduled for 1 p.m. PDT.