Bearcats Rally from 6-1 Deficit to Down Whitman, 21-19, as Garcia Scores 7 Goals

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Willamette University rallied from a 6-1 deficit in the first quarter to defeat Northwest Conference rival Whitman College 21-19 in a road game on Sunday, April 10. Maddie Garcia (Jr., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) led the Bearcats with seven goals, while Lily Bachiochi (Fy., ATT, Henderson, NV/Coronado HS) tallied four goals and four assists. Six Bearcats scored at least one goal.

The Bearcats upped their overall record to 10-3, while improving to 8-1 in the NWC. Whitman dropped to 3-6 overall, 2-4 in the NWC.

"It was a hard-fought win," Willamette Head Women's Lacrosse Coach Sarah Lautenbach commented. "As a staff, we are proud of how our team stayed focused mentally and emotionally coming from behind. They really worked as a team and leaned on each other's strengths to find success."

Garcia's goal-scoring barrage passed Bachiochi's six-goal outburst at Pacific University on March 30 for the most goals by a Willamette player in one game this season. The school record of nine goals was set by Anabel Ohsman ('21) at the University of Dallas on March 24, 2019.

Erin Magnuson scored six goals for Whitman on Sunday. Gracie Maulik added five goals and two assists for the Blues.

The Bearcats were behind 8-5 at the end of the first quarter, but tied the game at 11-11 late in the first half and trailed the Blues by a slim 12-11 margin at the break.

Willamette outscored Whitman 10-7 in the second half. The Blues owned a 14-13 lead with 8:23 left in the third quarter, but the Bearcats tallied the next four goals. After taking a 17-14 lead, the Bearcats answered each of Whitman's next four goals to keep regaining a three-goal edge until the Blues scored the game's final goal with 4:36 to left.

Whitman built its 6-1 advantage in the first seven minutes of the game, including thee goals by Magnuson. The Bearcats slowed down the Blues' attack and gradually reduced the lead. When Laura Kelly (Sr., ATT, Mountain View, CA/Mountain View HS) scored her second goal of the game with 51 seconds left in the first quarter, she pulled WU within 8-5.

Bachiochio tacked on a goal just 13 seconds into the second quarter to reduce the margin to two goals. Later, Catie Kawamura (Jr., ATT, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) tied the score when she hit the net at the 7:42 mark before halftime. The Blues took an 11-9 lead on goals by Eliza Daigle and Maulik, but Garcia registered back-to-back goals to tie the game with 1:42 on the clock. Madeleine Sherry earned a goal for Whitman with five seconds left in the half to give the Blues a 12-11 edge.

The Bearcats grabbed their first lead at 13-12 on two goals in a row by Kawamura with 12:41 and 11:04 to go in the third quarter. The next two goals went to the Blues, before Willamette tied the score again at 14-14 on a free-position shot by Analise Wilson (So., MID, Temecula, CA/Chaparral HS) at the 7:09 mark. The Bearcats added three goals in just under two minutes, as Garcia scored at 2:37 and 1:16 before Wilson put in another goal with 42 seconds left. Daigle cut the margin to 17-15 by scoring for Whitman 12 seconds later.

Each team tallied four goals in the fourth quarter, as Willamette remained in front. Scoring goals for WU in the final period were Wilson, Kawamura, Bachiochi, and Garcia.

Whitman held a 36-31 edge in total shots, but each team took 25 shots in the final three quarters. The Blues gained a slim 28-26 margin in shots on goal. Shelby Sawyer (Jr., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) improved to 10-3 in the nets for Willamette while recording nine saves. Sophia Maroulis provided Whitman with five saves.

The Bearcats attained an 18-13 advantage in ground balls, led by Emma Canchola (Sr., DEF, Oregon City OR/Oregon City HS) with four. Canchola also forced three turnovers and provided two long upfield runs while she had the ball in the final few minutes. Kawamura paced the Bearcats with 10 draw controls, while Kendyl Jennings (So., MID, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) matched Canchola by forcing three turnovers.

Amelia Leopold topped Whitman with three ground balls, while Maulik led the Blues with a game-high 10 draw controls. Magnuson was credited with nine draw controls, helping Whitman hold a 24-20 margin on the game's 44 draws.

Willamette will host the NWC leaders from George Fox University on Saturday, April 16 at 1 p.m. (PDT) at Sparks Field. GFU is 12-0 on the season and 7-0 in the NWC.