Bearcats Lead Early, Garcia Scores Three Goals, but Bruins Pull Away, 18-7

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University held a 3-1 lead, including two goals by Maddie Garcia (So., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Diegito Academy), but George Fox University rallied for an 18-7 victory in a Northwest Conference women's lacrosse game at Sparks Field on Saturday, March 27. Garcia also scored a goal in the second half to finish with three goals for the Bearcats.

George Fox improved to 6-0 this spring, including 4-0 in the NWC. The Bruins are the defending NWC champions from the 2019 season. Willamette fell to 3-1 overall, 2-1 in the NWC. The teams will play again at Sparks Field on Sunday, March 28 at 1 p.m. (PDT).

After Carleigh DeLapp scored the game's first goal for the Bruins at 25:47, Catie Kawamura (So., MID, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) tied the game for Willamette with a goal at 23:17. Garcia added goals at 22:31 and 15:52 to give the Bearcats a 3-1 advantage.

George Fox shut out Willamette over the remainder of the first half. The Bruins scored 11 goals in a row to end the half with a 12-3 lead. Five goals were scored in 57 seconds between 14:40 and 13:43, as GFU won the draw control after each of the first four goals in the offensive surge. The 5-0 run included two goals by DeLapp and one goal each from Holly Esposito, Kyra Barnes, and Bailey Faust. George Fox scored three goals in the final minute of the first half to build its nine-goal lead.

DeLapp recorded four goals in the first half. She finished with six goals overall.

The Bruins tallied the first goal of the second half on a shot by DeLapp at 27:52. Garcia registered her third goal of the game at 24:10 to pull WU within 13-4, but the Bearcats were unable to get closer.

For the game, DeLopp led all scorers with her six goals, plus three assists, for nine points. George Fox also received five goals and two assists from Barnes. Andrea Garcia-Milla of GFU earned one goal and three assists.

Garcia was the only Bearcat with multiple goals. Scoring one goal each were Kawamura, Anabel Ohsman (Sr., ATT/MID, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS), Tati Klenk (So., ATT/MIID, Truckee, CA/Mountain View HS), and Alayna Newland (Sr., ATT, Everett, WA/Archbishop Murphy HS).

Kawamura provided WU with a team-high five draw controls. Emma Canchola (Jr., DEF, Oregon City OR/Oregon City HS) earned four ground balls and forced two turnovers. Victoria Glidden (Jr., MID/DEF, Dover, NH/Phillips Exeter Academy) added four ground balls and one caused turnover. Analise Wilson (Fy., MID, Temecula, CA/Chaparral HS) caused two turnovers.

Barnes and Faust each achieved six draw controls for GFU, while DeLapp contributed four draw controls. Madison Strickland led the Bruins with five ground balls. Strickland and DeLapp each forced two turnovers.

Both teams used two goalkeepers. For Willamette, Shelby Sawyer (So., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) played the first half and registered 11 saves. Katie Hill (So., GK, Belmont, CA/Carmont HS) produced two saves over the final 30 minutes. For GFU, starter Ella Rand made four saves in the first half. Emma Webb earned four saves in the second half.