By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University surged out to a 7-0 lead and rolled past Whitman College, 19-3, at Sparks Field on Saturday, April 6 in a Northwest Conference women's lacrosse game. Lily Bachiochi (Jr., ATT, Henderson, NV/Coronado HS) scored five goals and added six assists, while Brooklynn Pearl (So., MID, Eugene, OR/Willamette HS) tallied five goals and one assist. The Bearcats outshot the Blues 32-14, including 26-9 in shots on goal.

The Bearcats upped their record to 7-2 on the season, 4-1 in the NWC. Whitman dropped to 6-4 overall, 2-3 in the NWC.

Bachiochi's 11 total points earned during the game were one point short of the school record. She set the record of 12 points with seven goals and five assists in Willamette's 18-11 win at Linfield University on March 19. This season, Bachiochi is the Bearcats' top scorer with 34 goals and 28 assists for 62 points. Her career totals are 118 goals, 107 assists, and 225 points. She holds the WU career records for assists and points.

Willamette was ready to go at the start of the game. Pearl put the Bearcats in front 1-0 on a free-position shot at the 13:56 mark. Cedric Shaw (Fy., MID, Jamul, CA/Valhalla HS) earned the opening draw control and also grabbed the ball on the next draw. Bachiochi scored an unassisted goal at 13:20. One minute later, Pearl tacked on a goal for a 3-0 lead.

Shea Richardson-Pepper (Jr., DEF/MID, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) earned Willamette's fourth goal on an assist from Bachiochi at the 8:33 mark. Bachiochi added a goal at 7:02 for a 5-0 margin and later recorded her third goal of the first quarter at 1:13.

Jay Shiflett (Fy., DEF, Glen Burnie, MD/Old Mill HS) completed the 7-goal start for the Bearcats by hitting the net with 23 seconds left in the first quarter. Madeleine Sherry scored for Whitman following an assist from Gracie Maulik 10 seconds later. The Bearcats led 7-1 when the quarter ended.

WU outscored the Blues 4-0 in the second quarter to hold an 11-1 halftime lead. Bachiochi provided the first goal of the quarter at 12:57. Kendyl Jennings (Sr., MID, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) was credited with her second assist of the game. Alyssa Molisee (Fy., MID/ATT, Henderson, NV/Nevada State HS) scored the next two goals, and Claire Kisielnicki (So., ATT, Manitou Springs, CO/Manitou Springs HS) supplied the fourth goal of the period with 3:53 to play before halftime.

A green card against Richardson-Pepper late in the first half, left Willamette a player short as the third quarter began. Even so, the Bearcats controlled the draw and scored a short-handed goal by Pearl at the 14:06 mark on a free-position shot. Sherry of Whitman scored her second goal at the 12:25 mark of the third quarter as the Blues cut the lead to 12-2.

The Bearcats achieved five more goals in the third quarter and the first two goals of the fourth quarter to expand the lead to 19-2. Lindsey Pasena-Littlesky scored Whitman's third goal with one second left in the game.

In addition to the outstanding offensive performances by Bachiochi and Pearl, the Bearcats also benefited from Milisee's three goals, and two goals, plus two goals and two assists by Jennings. WU goalkeeper Olivia Austin (Fy., GK, San Diego, CA/La Jolla HS) registered six saves.

Shiflett led Willamette with four ground balls and three caused turnovers. Jennings, Pearl, and Brielle Moore (Fy., D, San Diego, CA/Valhalla HS) each contributed three ground balls. Shaw earned 10 draw controls, helping Willamette finish with a 17-7 overall edge.

The Blues played two goalies, each for one half. In the opening half, Renn Novak made five saves, while Korin Wheaton provided two saves in the second half. Pasena-Littlesky accumulated five ground balls and five caused turnovers. Maulik led Whitman with four draw controls.

Willamette will play Whitworth University on Sunday, April 7 at Sparks Field. Game time for the NWC contest is set for 1 p.m. PDT.