Canchola Earns Six Ground Balls as Bearcats Fall to Chapman

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

ORANGE, Calif. -- Laura Kelly (Sr., ATT, Mountain View, CA/Mountain View HS) and Catie Kawamura (Jr., ATT, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) each scored a goal, but Chapman University defeated the Bearcats 19-2 in a non-conference game on Friday, March 25 at Wilson Field. Chapman advanced its record to 6-2, while Willamette fell to 6-3.

The Bearcats played two players short due to injuries, but were able to play on even terms inside each restraining line. Nonetheless, Chapman excelled on offense, building a 5-1 lead in the first quarter and holding a 12-2 advantage at halftime.

Willamette playing shorthanded had an impact in the middle of the field, as the Panthers limited WU to just 6-for-22 on clears. Chapman forced the Bearcats into 27 turnovers, while the Panthers lost the ball 18 times.

Jessica Ricketts led Chapman with three goals and one assist. Danni Malinski, Venessa Topete, and Elise Mayor each scored two goals for the Panthers. Sophia Bitis, Mei-Lani Ferreira, and Riley Murphy each contributed two assists.

In addition to the goals by Kelly and Kawamura, the Bearcats received an assist from Maddie Garcia (Jr., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy). Emma Canchola (Sr., DEF, Oregon City OR/Oregon City HS) amassed six ground balls for the Bearcats, while Kawamura earned five draw controls. Kelly caused four turnovers and Canchola was credited with forcing three turnovers. Goalkeeper Shelby Sawyer (Jr., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) provided WU with 15 saves and four ground balls.

Four Chapman players scored the game's first four goals, as Corinn Valeri, Ricketts, Emily Allen, and Murphy each put the ball in the net once. Kelly cut the margin to 4-1 when she scored for Willamette with 1:07 left in the first quarter. Annika Carlson of Chapman tallied the final goal of the quarter with 11 seconds left.

In the second quarter, the Panthers added seven goals before Kawamura scored for Willamette at the 3:38 mark. The Panthers tacked on five goals in the third quarter and two in the fourth quarter.

Chapman finished with a 40-6 edge in total shots. CU goalie Anna Hereu registered two assists. The Panthers gained a 39-23 edge in ground balls, converted 8-of-10 clear attempts, and recorded a 16-8 margin in draw controls. Allen led the Panthers with seven ground balls, while Allen, Ricketts, and Olivia Ng tied for the team lead with three assists.

Willamette will return to action on Wednesday, March 30 at Pacific University. Game time for the Northwest Conference match-up is set for 5 p.m. (PDT) in Forest Grove, Oregon.