Kawamura Scores Four Goals as Bearcats Roll Past Eastern Oregon, 17-6

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

LA GRANDE, Ore. -- Willamette University scored the game's first nine goals, led 12-2 at halftime, and Catie Kawamura (Jr., ATT, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) finished with four goals, as the Bearcats defeated Eastern Oregon University in non-conference women's lacrosse action on Saturday, Feb. 19. Willamette, playing its season opener, is now 1-0. Eastern Oregon dropped to 1-1.

Kawamura's four goals led the way for Willamette, while Lily Bachiochi (Fy., ATT, Henderson, NV/Coronado HS) contributed three goals and three assists. Laura Kelly (Sr., ATT, Mountain View, CA/Mountain View HS) provided three goals and two assists, Tati Klenk (Jr., ATT, Truckee, CA/Tahoe Truckee HS) earned three goals and one assist, and Maddie Garcia (Jr., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) added two goals and two assists. Five Bearcats each registered at least four total points.

Willamette's offensive success was reflected in the game statistics, as the Bearcats took 36 total shots, including 31 shots on goal. Kawamura topped the chart with nine shots (seven on target), while Klenk added seven shots (five on goal). The Bearcats limited the Mountaineers to 20 total shots and 15 shots on goal. Shelby Sawyer (Jr., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) recorded nine saves to achieve the win.

"We learned a lot and got our first game jitters out. It was a great team win," Willamette Head Women's Lacrosse Coach Sarah Lautenbach said. "We had every member of our attack contributing, including our two first-year players. For our first game, we showed poise and patience, making adjustments as we went."

Samantha Buckley of Eastern Oregon scored two goals. Four other Mountaineers each scored once. EOU goalkeeper Brooklynn Wright was credited with 14 saves.

WU tallied seven goals in the first quarter, including four in the first six minutes. The opening goals were scored by Kawamura at 13:17, Bachiochi at 12:18, Kawamura again at 10:29, and Klenk at 9:22. Goals by Kelly, Garcia, and Klenk completed the first-quarter scoring. Klenk's goal with 1:00 on the clock was an extra-player goal during a penalty on EOU.

In the second quarter, Kendyl Jennings (So., MID, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) scored at 13:18 and Kelly put in a goal at 9:29, as Willamette's lead reached 9-0. Samantha Buckley registered Eastern Oregon's first goal with 7:31 left in the half, but WU answered with two goals for an 11-1 advantage at the 5:47 mark. Marisol Trevino scored for the Mountaineers at 4:21 and Garcia registered her second goal for Willamette with 1:31 to play in the half.

Bachiochi increased WU's margin to 13-2 less than three minutes into the third quarter. The Mountaineers tacked on the next three goals to cut the lead to 13-5 at the 2:15 mark. Kawamura added the final goal of the third quarter with 13 seconds left for a 14-5 edge.

Scoring for the Bearcats in the fourth quarter were Shea Richardson-Pepper (Fy., D/M, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS), Kelly, and Bachiochi. WU held a 17-5 lead before Madisson Hoyt of EOU hit the net for a goal with 1:10 remaining.

Willamette is scheduled to return to action on Saturday, March 5 in a Northwest Conference game against Whitworth University. Game time at Sparks Field is set for 1 p.m. (PST).