Kawamura and Garcia Each Score Four Goals in 15-6 Win versus Pacific

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Catie Kawamura (Fy., MID, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) and Maddie Garcia (Fy., MID, Encinitas, CA San Diegito Acsademy) scored four goals apiece, and Miranda Piros (So., ATT MID, Newberg, OR/Newberg HS) added three goals, as Willamette University overcame an early 3-0 deficit to roll past Pacific University, 15-6, in a Northwest Conference game on Sunday, March 8. The win at Sparks Field upped the Bearcats' record to 2-1 on the season, 2-0 in the NWC. Pacific dropped to 0-3 overall, 0-2 in the NWC.

The visiting Boxers scored three goals in the opening 2:27, but the Bearcats controlled the tempo and the goal scoring for nearly the rest of the game to win going away. Goalkeeper Shelby Sawyer (Fy., Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy), who entered the game after Pacific scored its third goal, registered seven saves, while allowing only three additional goals in the final 57:32. After losing the first three draw controls, Willamette earned a 10-8 advantage in draw controls the rest of the way.

Pacific's early goals were scored by Dakota Dantzer, Roya Tahmassebi and Madisen Castro. The second and third goals were achieved just 25 seconds apart.

After a timeout, the Bearcats wasted little time creating their first goal. Kawamura won the draw control that followed Pacific's third goal to give WU its first possession of the game. Piros shot wide at 27:12, but the Bearcats retained the ball, Anabel Ohsman (Jr., ATT/MID, Shohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS) scored at 26:44.

Two goals in 14 seconds by Piros at 23:19 and Kawamura at 23:05 tied the scored. The Bearcats moved in front 4-3 on a goal from Piros about seven minutes later. Tahmassebi tied the score for the Boxers at the 14:15 mark. Kawamura produced a goal at 12:33 to give Willamette a 5-4 advantage, and the Nearcats remained in front the rest of the game.

The Bearcats scored four more goals before halftime, two by Kawamura and two by Garcia. The second goal by Garcia was scored with 21 seconds remaining. The Bearcats gained temporary possession on the ensuing draw control, but a turnover resulted in Pacific taking the ball and scoring on a shot by Katrina Boyd with five seconds on the clock. The Bearcats led 9-5 at the break.

Willamette outscored Pacific 6-1 in the second half, starting with an on-target shot by Alayna Newland (Jr., ATT, Everett, WA/Archbishop Murphy HS) that hit the net at 26:53. Dantzer of Pacific scored for the Boxers at 25:25, but goals by Piros and Laura Kelly (So., ATT/MID, Mountain View, CA/Mountain View HS) during the next 1:49 increased Willamette's advantage to 12-6. Kelly scored again with 14:14 left. Garcia completed her four-goal effort with scores at 9:14 and 7:58.

The Bearcats outshot the Boxers, 33-18, including 15-5 in the second half. Willamette placed 25 shots on goal, while Pacific achieved 13 shots on target. The Bearcats claimed a 25-14 edge in ground balls, and concluded the game with 14 clears in 23 attempts, including 9 of 11 in the second half. The Boxers were 9 of 13 on clears.

Up next for Willamette is a match-up against defending NWC champion George Fox University at Sparks Field on Saturday, March 14. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PDT).