Bearcats Build 11-2 Halftime Lead against Wildcats, Defeat Linfield, 16-11

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- The Willamette University Bearcats scored the first 10 goals of the game and held an 11-2 lead at halftime on their way to defeating Linfield University, 16-11, in a Northwest Conference women's lacrosse game on Sunday, April 4. Catie Kawamura (So., MID, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) and Analise Wilson (Fy., MID, Temecula, CA/Chaparral HS) each scored four goals to lead the WU attack. Willamette advanced its record to 4-3 overall, 3-3 in the NWC, while the Wildcats slipped to 5-3 on the season, 5-3 in the NWC. The teams split the weekend series. Linfield won the first game, 15-13, on Saturday.

"We played a full game today and fought all 60 minutes of it," Willamette Head Women's Lacrosse Coach Sarah Lautenbach said. "It was truly a team effort. We had seven different players contribute points, went toe-to-toe on draw controls, and came up with big defensive and goaltending saves throughout. When we needed to execute and finish, we rose to the challenge and remained focused on playing our game."

Willamette dominated most of the first half. Kawamura scored the game's opening goal at 27:17 to start the Bearcats' 10-0 run. Wilson scored at 25:26 on assists from Kawamura and Anabel Ohsman (Sr., ATT/MID, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS). Tati Klenk (So., ATT/MIID, Truckee, CA/Mountain View HS) tacked on a goal at 20:45 for a 3-0 lead. The next seven goals were scored in less than eight minutes between the 15:28 mark and the 7:44 mark. When the run ended, Kawamura and Klenk each had three goals, while Wilson had two goals, and Maddie Garcia (So., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) and Ohsman each owned one goal.

The Wildcats registered their first goal with 3:49 left in the half on a shot by Bethany Shade that was assisted by Jenna Hessel. Wilson responded with a goal as the clock reached 1:58 to give WU an 11-1 lead after receiving a pass from Lexie Andrade (Sr., ATT, Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS). Shade tallied her second goal with 37 seconds to go, but Linfield trailed by nine goals at the break.

Linfield outscored the Bearcats 9-5 in the second half, but never got closer than five goals. A 3-0 run in 1:34 early in the half pulled the Wildcats within 11-5 with 26:50 left. Kawamura broke the string of Linfield goals by scoring for Willamette 42 seconds later.

Kawamura's goal started a 3-1 surge for the Bearcats, as Willamette grabbed a 14-6 advantage with 21:30 to play. Also scoring goals during the run were Hessel for Linfield followed by Wilson and Ohsman for Willamette. Hessel put in two goals for Linfield after Oshman scored, and Maia Rezoski scored for the Wildcats at the 17:19 mark, cutting Willamette's lead to 14-9. About four minutes later, Laura Kelly (Jr., ATT/MID, Mountain View, CA/Mountain View HS) beat Linfield goalkeeper Epi Roldan-Rayo for a goal, giving WU a six-goal cushion.

In addition to four goals from Kawamura and four goals from Wilson, the Bearcats also received two goals each by Ohsman and Kelly. Kawamura added three assists for seven total points. Ohsman also registered three assists, as she finished with five points.

Wilson provided a strong all-around game for Willamette with six draw controls, six ground balls, and three caused turnovers. Kawamura attained five draw controls and five caused turnovers, while Victoria Glidden (Jr., MID/DEF, Dover, NH/Phillips Exeter Academy) forced two turnovers.

WU goalie Shelby Sawyer (So., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) contributed a career-high 14 saves and four ground balls. Her 14 saves are second on Willamette's all-time list, trailing only the 16 saves by Kara Phillips ('19) against Linfield on March 31, 2019.

On Sunday, Linfield's top scorer was Hessel with four goals and two assists for six points. Shade recorded three goals and two assists for five points. Robbins earned a goal and three assists. Shade led LU with 10 draw controls, eight ground balls, and four caused turnovers. Rezoski was credited with seven ground balls and four forced turnovers. Also causing four turnovers were Maranda Tucker and Elena Kroll. Roldan-Rayo amassed six saves in goal for the Wildcats.

Linfield gained a 31-29 edge in total shots, including 25-22 in shots on target. The Wildcats also held a 32-25 edge in ground balls and a slim 15-14 in draw controls. Both teams excelled on clears, with WU completing 17 of 23 attempts and Linfield going 13 of 17.

Willamette will take on NWC opponent Whitworth University on Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11 at Sparks Field. Game time is slated for 1 p.m. (PDT) each day.