Six Willamette Players Score Goals in 19-6 Victory over Whitworth

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- A total of six Willamette University players scored goals, led by Laura Kelly (Jr., ATT/MID, Mountain View, CA/Mountain View HS) with five goals, as the Bearcats defeated Whitworth University, 19-6, at Sparks Field on Sunday, April 11. Kelly finished the game with her five goals and two assists for seven points. Catie Kawamura (So., MID, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) provided a game-high eight points for the Bearcats on four goals and four assists.

Maddie Garcia (So., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) contributed four goals for Willamette. Anabel Ohsman (Sr., ATT/MID, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS), Lexie Andrade (Sr., ATT, Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS), and Analise Wilson (Fy., MID, Temecula, CA/Chaparral HS) each produced two goals. Madison Perry of Whitworth scored three goals and was credited with one assist.

The Bearcats improved to 6-3 on the season, including 5-3 in the Northwest Conference. The Pirates dropped to 0-4 overall, 0-4 in the NWC.

Willamette opened the scoring on a man-up goal by Andrade with 24:39 left in the first half. The Bearcats added a man-down goal at 22;21 on a shot by Kelly. Whitworth pulled within 2-1 at the 19:46 mark on a goal by Perry, but the Bearcats answered with a 4-0 run to grab a 6-1 advantage.

The four-goal surge included one goal each by Wilson, Kawamura, Ohsman, and Garcia. The goal by Garcia completed the run with 8:28 on the clock. The Pirates scored 33 seconds later on a goal by Trinity Frank. Andrade scored for Willamette at the 7:27 mark and Perry earned a goal on a free position shot for Whitworth with 7:08 to go, leaving the Bearcats with a 7-3 margin. Willamette concluded the half with two goals by Kawamura.

In the second half, the Bearcats earned the first six goals to expand their lead to 15-3 with 18:48 to play. Kelly earned the first three goals, then Garica scored twice. Kelly added another goal and Wilson registered the last goal during the run. Abby Hahn scored for the Pirates at the 17:03 mark. Willamette outscored Whitworth 4-2 during the remainder of the game.

Maddie Garcia (So., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy)

Garcia's four goals increased her season total to a team-leading 32 goals. Kawamura's four goals advanced her total to 27 on the season. Kawamura also has recorded 12 assists and leads the Bearcats with 39 total points.

During the game, Willamette achieved a 25-18 advantage in total shots and a 22-13 edge in shots on goal. The Bearcats claimed a 15-14 margin in ground balls, including 7-3 in the second half. Kiana Gottschalk (So., D, Bend, OR/Bend HS) of Willamette registered three ground balls. Whitworth won the draw control battle, 17-10, behind nine draw controls from Perry. Wilson topped Willamette with eight draw controls.

The Bearcats earned nine caused turnovers, led by Gottschalk, who forced the Pirates into three mistakes. Kawamura registered two caused turnovers. The Bearcats also limited Whitworth to just 2 of 10 on attempted clears.

Goalkeepers Shelby Sawyer (So., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) and Katie Hill (So., GK, Belmont, CA/Carmont HS) split time in goal for the Bearcats. Sawyer produced five saves in the first half. Whitworth goalie Tori Schauer supplied the Pirates with two saves.

Willamette will take on the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, May 1 at Sparks Field. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PDT).