Seniors Combine for 10 Goals in 21-9 Win Over Linfield in Final Home Match
Salem, Ore. - Playing in their final home game for Willamette, Lily Bachiochi (4), Shea Richardson-Pepper (3), and Sydney Davis (3), accounted for ten of the Bearcats' goals in a 21-9 victory over Linfield. Bachiochi also contributed five assists, while Richardson-Pepper picked up five ground balls, each leading the team.
Catie Mohr started the scoring for Willamette with a goal just over three minutes into the game, off an assist from Bachiochi. Richardson-Pepper scored less than a minute later, again off a Bachiochi assist, to give the Bearcats an early 2-0 lead. After a Linfield goal cut the lead to one, Bachiochi assisted on goals from Alex Warfel and Claire Kisielnicki to push the lead to 4-1 and Richardson-Pepper scored one more to give the Bearcats a 5-1 lead after the first quarter.
Bachiochi scored her first goal to start the second quarter as Willamette pushed in lead out to 9-1 thanks to two more goals from Kisielnicki and one more from Mohr. The teams traded two-goal bursts the rest of the half and Willamette carried a 13-5 lead into halftime.
The Wildcats opened the scoring in the second half, but Willamette followed with five straight scores to build an 18-6 advantage. Davis, who had scored to end the first half, scored two more goals in the third quarter, with Kisielnicki adding two more and Bachiochi scoring one. The teams traded goals in the fourth as Willamette went on to the 21-9 victory.
Kisielnicki led the Bearcats with seven goals in the game and tied Bachiochi for the most points. Jay Shiflett tied Richardson-Pepper for the team lead in ground balls with five and led the team with five caused turnovers, helping her build on her school record for turnovers caused in a season and a career.
The Bearcats finished third in the Northwest Conference in the regular season and have qualified for the NWC Tournament. They will face Whitman College in the second semi-final match at George Fox University on Friday, May 2nd, at 7:00 pm.