Garcia Scores Six Goals, as Willamette Defeats Pacific, 15-11

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Maddie Garcia (So., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Diegito Academy) scored six goals to lead Willamette University to a 15-11 victory over Pacific University in women's lacrosse on Saturday, March 20. The Bearcats advanced to 2-0 on the season, 1-0 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific fell to 0-3 overall, 0-1 in the NWC.

The Bearcats built a 6-0 lead in less than 19 minutes. Garcia scored goals at 28:44 and 25:28, and then Lexie Andrade (Sr., ATT, Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS) added a goal at 21:02. Less than a minute later, Garcia tallied her third goal at 19:04. The opening offensive rush also included one goal each by Catie Kawamura (So., MID, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) at 16:35 and by Alayna Newland (Sr., ATT, Everett, WA/Archbishop Murphy HS) at 11:12.

Pacific earned its first goal at the 7:20 mark in the first half on a shot by Sydney Bierenkoven. Andrade and Garcia each scored for WU during the final two minutes of the half to give Willamette an 8-1 lead at the break.

The Boxers scored next, but Willamette held a 10-2 lead with 22:06 left in the game after Analise Wilson (Fy., MID, Temecula, CA/Chaparral HS) and Kendyl Jennings (Fy., MID, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) scored goals just 19 seconds apart. Pacific answered with a 5-0 run, including a trio of goals by Bierenkoven, to pull within 10-7. Garcia broke the Boxers' run with a goal for WU with 12:52 left.

Goals by Julien Dagan and Katrina Boyd reduced the margin to 11-9 at the 9:30 mark. Willamette registered the next three goals by Wilson, Kawamura, and Wilson again to claim a 14-9 lead with just 4:45 to go. Pacific got as close as 14-11 with 3:17 left, when Vivian Mai scored on a free position shot while Willamette was playing short-handed due to a penalty. Garcia scored the game's final goal for Willamette with 53 seconds remaining.

Garcia led Willamette with six points on her six goals. Andrade contributed two goals and two assists for four points. Wilson had three goals, while Kawamura finished with two goals and one assist. Bierenkoven topped Pacific with five goals and one assist. Boyd recorded two goals for the Boxers.

The Boxers gained a 30-22 edge in total shots, but held a much smaller 21-20 advantage in shots on goal. Bierenkoven led all players with 12 shots and eight shots on goal. Garcia scored her six goals for Willamette on just seven shots, with all seven shots on target.

Willamette gained a 14-13 margin in ground balls, while Pacific achieved a 14-11 lead in draw controls. Emma Canchola (Jr., DEF, Oregon City OR/Oregon City HS) provided WU with three ground balls, while Kawamura attained six draw controls. Bierenkoven was credited with seven draw controls for the Boxers. Mai and Caitlyn Felton each registered three ground balls for Pacific.

Shelby Sawyer (So., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) provided WU with 10 saves while playing the first 51:45 in goal. Katie Hill (So., GK, Belmont, CA/Carmont HS) played the final 8:14. For Pacific, Madison Ivey made two saves in the first half and Amelia Haindl earned three saves in the second half.

The teams will play each other again on Sunday, March 21 in Forest Grove. Game time is slated for 1 p.m. (PDT).