Sawyer and Willamette Defenders Lead the Way in 7-6 Win over Puget Sound

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University women's lacrosse team has scored 17 or more goals in eight games this season. On Sunday, April 24 during the Senior Day game at Sparks Field, goalkeeper Shelby Sawyer (Jr., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) and the Willamette defense led the way with an outstanding game, helping the Bearcats win 7-6 over the University of Puget Sound. The victory concluded Willamette's season at 12-5, as the Bearcats clinched sole possession of second place in the Northwest Conference standings with a 9-3 record. Puget Sound also played well on defense, especially goalkeeper Olivia Almy, but the Loggers fell to 8-6 overall, 6-6 in the NWC.

Sawyer earned seven saves for Willamette, while Almy finished with 11 saves for the Loggers. The Bearcats outshot Puget Sound 25-20.

Prior to the game, the Bearcats honored seniors for both teams, including Willamette's Emma Canchola (Sr., DEF, Oregon City OR/Oregon City HS) and Laura Kelly (Sr., ATT, Mountain View, CA/Mountain View HS). Canchola finished her Willamette career with school records for ground balls in a season (66 in 2019) and ground balls in a career (158). She ranked first on this year's team with 49 ground balls. Kelly concluded her career with 60 goals and 24 assists for 84 points, including 34 goals and 12 assists this season.

Canchola played in and started 46 of 47 games since Willamette started competing in women's lacrosse in 2019. Kelly saw action in all 47 games in her career, including 44 starts. Both seniors played key roles in Sunday's win.

Puget Sound grabbed a 2-1 lead on goals by Emily LaRiviere and Hayden Hotchkiss in the first seven minutes of the game. In between the two goals, Lily Bachiochi (Fy., ATT, Henderson, NV/Coronado HS) scored for the Bearcats.

The Loggers did not score again in the first half, as Willamette went on a 6-0 run. Maddie Garcia (Jr., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) tied the game at 2-2 with an unassisted score with 4:27 left in the first quarter. Catie Kawamura (Jr., ATT, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) tallied the next two goals, as she gave WU a 3-2 lead by scoring with 2:46 to go in the first quarter and scored again just over two minutes into the second quarter for a 4-2 lead. Kelly assisted Kawamura's first goal and Bachiochi provided the assist on the second goal.

Emma Canchola (Sr., DEF, Oregon City OR/Oregon City HS), fourth from left, and Laura Kelly (Sr., ATT, Mountain View, CA/Mountain View HS), third from right, with their families on Senior Day.

Kendyl Jennings (So., MID, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) scored on a free-position shot for Willamette with 4:57 remaining in the second quarter. Kelly tacked on a man-up goal on a free-position shot at the 3:03 mark and scored again with 21 seconds left in the half to give Willamette a 7-2 lead.

Puget Sound outscored the Bearcats 4-0 in the second half, but Willamette remained in front. LaRiviere scored on a free-position shot with 12:01 to play in the third quarter. The Loggers didn't score again until the clock reached 1:32 in the quarter, when Lauren Mastin hit the net with a shot that was assisted by LaRiviere. In the fourth quarter, Beatrice Bridge added a goal from a free-position opportunity with 6:08 left, as Puget Sound pulled within 7-5. Bridge added another goal with 5:13 remaining, reducing the Bearcats' margin to a single goal at 7-6.

Neither team scored during the final five minutes, as Olmy registered four of her saves for the Loggers and the WU defense allowed just one shot, which missed wide of the goal at the 2:26 mark. Puget Sound held possession late in the game, but Analise Wilson (So., MID, Temecula, CA/Chaparral HS) forced a turnover by Hannah Bushing and Sawyer grabbed the loose ball near the goal for the Bearcats.

Kelly led Willamette's attack with two goals and one assist. Kawamura also scored two goals, while Bachiochi was credited with one goal and one assist. Bachiochi ended the season as Willamette's overall scoring leader with 81 points (42 goals, 39 assists). Garcia and Jennings each provided one goal. Garcia topped the Bearcats this spring with 48 goals, while Kawamura supplied 47 goals.

WU achieved a 12-5 advantage in draw controls, including six each by Kawamura and Shea Richardson-Pepper (Fy., D/M, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS). Bridge registered three draw controls for Puget Sound. Each team recorded 19 ground balls, as Jennings earned five for Willamette, while Bridge and Jenny Kisner were credited with four apiece.