Kawamura Scores Three Goals for Bearcats in Loss to Bruins

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Sophomore midfielder Catie Kawamura (San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) put three goals in the net for Willamette University on Sunday, March 28 against George Fox University. Analise Wilson (Fy., MID, Temecula, CA/Chaparral HS) also scored a goal for the Bearcats. George Fox won the game 16-4 to remain undefeated at 7-0 overall and 5-0 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette moved to 3-2 overall, 2-2 in the NWC.

The Bruins recorded the game's first two goals. Kyra Barnes scored at 24:58 and Sydney Thatch added the second score at 22:46. Willamette cut the margin to 2-1 on Kawamura's first goal at 18:16. George Fox responded with a 4-0 run from 15:21 to 13:09 to expand the lead to 6-1. Barnes and Thatch scored during the offensive surge, along with Carleigh DeLapp and Marena Tharpe.

Wilson beat GFU goalkeeper Ella Rand at the 8:00 mark to get Willamette within 6-2. The Bruins added three goals before halftime for a 9-2 lead at the break. GFU gained a 7-2 scoring edge in the second half.

Barnes, Thatch, DeLapp, and Tharp each scored three goals during the game for the Bruins. Andrea Garcia-Milla of GFU led all players with six assists.

Willamette goalie Shelby Sawyer (So., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) accumulated 13 saves. Rand played the first 50 minutes for George Fox and made one save. Emma Webb was in goal for the Bruins over the final 10 minutes.

GFU gained a 43-5 advantage in total shots including 30-5 in shots on goal. The Bruins also earned a 22-10 margin in ground balls and won 18 of 22 draw controls. Tharpe topped all players with seven draw controls. Garcia-Milla registered five ground balls. Tharpe and Payton Bergren each forced two turnovers.

For the Bearcats, Wilson won four draw controls. Sawyer was credited with three ground balls, while Kiana  Gottschalk (So., D, Bend, OR/Bend HS) and Emma Canchola (Jr., DEF, Oregon City OR/Oregon City HS) each supplied two ground balls. Four WU players -- Canchola, Gottschalk, Maddie Garcia (So., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Diegito Academy), and Nina Hernandez (Sr., DEF/MID, Valencia, CA/Williams S. Hart HS) -- each caused one turnover by the Bruins.

Willamette will play an NWC game at Linfield University on Saturday, April 3. Game time in McMinnville, Oregon, is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PDT).