IWLCA Honors Women's Lacrosse Team and Three Bearcats for Academic Success
By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University women's lacrosse team and three Bearcats have received academic recognition from the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) for the 2022-23 season. The WU women's lacrosse team was chosen as an IWLCA Academic Honor Squad. Willamette players Kiana Gottschalk (Sr., DEF, Bend, OR/Bend HS), Kendyl Jennings (Jr., MID, Keizer, OR/McNary HS), and Jade Kampen (Sr., DEF, Eugene, OR/South Eugene HS) were named to the IWLCA Division III Academic Honor Roll. All three of Willamette's selections were recently named Academic All-District by the College Sports Communictors (CSC, formerly College Sports Information Directors of America).
Student-athletes chosen for the Academic Honor Roll were juniors, seniors, or graduate students. Each player needed a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher in order to qualify. A total of 963 student-athletes from 173 NCAA Division III teams were named to the Academic Honor Roll. Sixteen players from four Northwest Conference teams were selected.
The IWLCA Academic Honor Squads were teams from all three NCAA Divisions and the NAIA that achieved team GPAs of 3.2 or higher during the 2022-23 academic year. Willamette was one of five Northwest Conference teams that received the award.
Willamette concluded the 2023 season with a 13-5 record, including 9-3 in the NWC (2nd place tie). The Bearcats qualified for the first-ever NWC Tournament and defeated Whitman 14-13 in overtime in the semifinals before falling to George Fox 20-12 in the NWC Championship game. The Bearcats scored a school record 268 goals for 14.9 goals per game. WU also earned 311 ground balls, registered 245 draw controls, and achieved 136 caused turnovers.
IWLCA Division III Academic Honor Roll
Kiana Gottschalk (Sr., DEF) was named to the IWLCA Division III Academic Honor Roll for the second consecutive season. She played in 15 games with 14 starts this spring. She excelled on defense with 17 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers, including five caused turnovers versus Whitman on March 12 and three caused turnovers against Linfield on April 9 and against Whitman on April 16. She contributed an assist in WU's win over nearby rival Corban on Feb. 15.
In her career, she has played in 40 games with 39 starts over the past three seasons. She was a member of the team in 2020, but did not play during the COVID-shortened season. Her career statistics for the Bearcats include 67 ground balls and 23 caused turnovers. Gottschalk graduated from Willamette this spring with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science.
Kendyl Jennings (Jr., MID) played in 16 games this season with 16 starts for the Bearcats. She registered three goals and eight assists, including two goals and three assists versus Eastern Oregon on Feb. 10. She also provided WU with 20 ground balls and eight caused turnovers this year. She was named Second Team All-NWC in 2022 after scoring 11 goals and 14 assists.
At WU, Jennings has produced 18 goals and 12 assists during her career for 48 points. She has played in 44 games, all starts. She has taken 39 shots with 30 shots on goal. Jennings has supplied the Bearcats with 72 ground balls and 30 caused turnovers. She is majoring in Biology.
Jade Kampen (Sr., DEF) was chosen First Team All-NWC this season after starting all 18 games and providing Willamette with 35 ground balls, 16 draw control, and 16 caused turnovers. She helped Willamette allow just 10.95 goals per game this season while limiting seven opponents to fewer than nine goals. She earned six ground balls in an 18-4 win over Pacific on April 8.
In three seasons at Willamette, Kampen has competed in 44 games with 35 starts. She has accumulated 72 career ground balls to go along with 24 draw controls and 25 caused turnovers. Kampen is majoring in Global Cultural Studies with minors in Public Health and Spanish.