Willamette Earns 20-4 Win over Pacific as Bearcats Improve to 11-5

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University surged out to an 8-1 lead in the first quarter and the Bearcats continued to pull away in a 20-4 victory over Pacific University on Wednesday, April 20 at Sparks Field. Catie Kawamura (Jr., ATT, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) scored seven goals -- six in the first half and the seventh just seconds into the third quarter -- to lead the Bearcats. Lily Bachiochi (Fy., ATT, Henderson, NV/Coronado HS) earned four goals and five assists.

The Bearcats advanced their record to 11-5 on the season, including 8-3 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific fell to 2-13 overall, 0-11 in the NWC.

Kawamura's seven goals are tied for the most by a Willamette player this season, matching the seven goals scored by Maddie Garcia (Jr., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) against Whitman College on April 10. The Willamette school record for goals in a game was nine by Anabel Ohsman ('21) against the University of Dallas on March 24, 2019.

The nine points by Bachiochi on Wednesday matched her nine-point output (4 goals, 5 assists) against Linfield University on March 13. Willamette's school record of 10 points in a game was set by Ohsman (9 goals, 1 assists) versus Dallas in 2019.

Bachiochi opened the scoring just 25 seconds into the game, starting a string of four consecutive goals for the Bearcats. Kawamura scored at the 10:18 mark, Garcia hit the net at 9:09, and Kawamura scored again at 8:05.

Hyland Cullen-Musengo of Pacific put the Boxers on the scoreboard about two minutes later with 6:07 on the clock. WU tacked on four goals in the final 5:14 of the quarter, as Kawamura tallied three scores and Garcia added one. Kawamura earned five goals during the quarter.

Bachiochi and Nina Hernandez (Grad., D, Valencia, CA/William S. Hart HS) added the next two goals, as the Bearcats grabbed a 10-1 lead with 8:57 to go in the half. Sophia Alexander of Pacific scored 28 seconds later, but Kawamura put in a goal with 6:37 left to give WU an 11-2 advantage. Cullen-Musengo earned a goal 14 seconds later on a free-position shot, before Willamette closed the half with two goals for a 13-3 lead at the break.

The Bearcats outscored the Boxers 4-1 in the third quarter and 3-0 in the fourth quarter. Willamette finished with a 33-9 advantage in total shots and a 29-6 margin in shots on goal. WU goalie Shelby Sawyer (Jr., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) registered two saves and  improved to 11-5 with the win. Amelia Haindl made nine saves in goal for Pacific.

Willamette claimed a 15-13 edge in draw controls, led by Shea Richardson-Pepper (Fy., D/M, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) with seven and Analise Wilson (So., MID, Temecula, CA/Chaparral HS) with five. Cullen-Musengo topped the Boxers with nine draw controls. The Bearcats accumulated a 22-9 margin in ground balls, as Kendyl Jennings (So., MID, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) and Jade Kampen (So., MID, Eugene, OR/South Eugene HS) each earned four.

Pacific committed 25 turnovers, while the Bearcats lost the ball 13 times. Willamette was 14 for 16 on clears, while the Boxers finished 9 of 19.

The Bearcats will conclude the season with the Senior Day game against the University of Puget Sound on Sunday, April 24. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PDT).