Garcia and Kawamura Each Earn 7 Points, but Linfield Holds off Bearcats 16-15

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Maddie Garcia (Jr., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) and Catie Kawamura (Jr., ATT, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) each scored seven points against Linfield University on Sunday, April 17, but the Wildcats broke a 12-12 tie by earning the first three goals of the fourth quarter on their way to a 16-15 win over the Bearcats at the Linfield Lacrosse Complex. Linfield improved to 9-5 on the season, 5-4 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette slipped to 10-5 overall, 7-3 in the NWC.

Garcia scored five goals and added two assists, while Kawamura contributed four goals and three assists. Both players reached the 100-point mark in their careers. Kawamura now has scored 105 career points with 78 goals and 27 assists. Garcia has 100 points on 91 goals and nine assists. Garcia leads this year's team with 44 goals and Kawamura ranks second with 38 goals.

The teams were tied at 12-12 entering the final quarter after Maia Rezoski of Linfield scored with 25 seconds left in the third quarter. Linfield's Jose Duey put in a goal just 17 seconds into the fourth quarter to give the Wildcats a 13-12 lead. Rezoski scored with 11:49 remaining and Amelia Wright earned a goal at the 10:53 mark, as the home team increased its lead to 15-12.

Willamette reduced the margin to 15-14 on back-to-back goals by Analise Wilson (So., MID, Temecula, CA/Chaparral HS) with 5:12 and 4:25 remaining. The first goal was on a free-position shot and the second goal was assisted by Laura Kelly (Sr., ATT, Mountain View, CA/Mountain View HS).

The Bearcats were still within one goal as the game entered the final minute of regulation. Linfield added an insurance score with 47 seconds to go on a shot by Duey following a pass from Rezoski.

After a timeout by the Bearcats, Willamette won the ensuing draw control as Shea Richardson-Pepper (Fy., D/M, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) gained possession. Kendyl Jennings (So., MID, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) scored a goal for Willamette with 20 seconds left on an assist from Kawamura to pull WU within 16-15. Abby Ross of Linfield secured the next draw control and the Wildcats ran out the clock.

In addition to Garcia's five goals and Kawamura's four goals, the Bearcats also received four goals from Wilson. Kelly and Jenning each supplied one goal. Kelly also provided WU with four assists. Linfield was led by Duey with six goals and one assist and by Bethany Shade with four goals and two assists. Rezoski, Wright, and Ross each scored two goals.

Linfield surged out to a 5-2 lead in the first quarter, including two goals from Shade, two goals from Duey, and one goal from Ross. Garcia tallied both of Willamette's goals.

Kawamura scored the first goal of the second quarter at the 11:16 mark to cut Linfield's advantage to 5-3. The Wildcats soon answered with a goal by Ross and later tacked on a pair of goals by Duey to take an 8-3 lead with 8:55 on the clock. The Bearcats responded with a 5-1 run to cut the deficit to 9-8 at halftime.

WU tied the game on a goal by Garcia less than three minutes into the third quarter, but the Wildcats earned the next two goals for an 11-9 edge. The Bearcats added a 3-0 run as Kawamura scored goals at 8:06 and 7:46, and Kelly sent a shot into the net at the 4:50 mark. Neither team scored again until Rezoski tied the game late in the quarter.

The Wildcats finished the contest with a 33-27 lead in total shots and a 24-20 margin in shots on goal. Shelby Sawyer (Jr., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) registered eight saves for Willamette. Lizzy Harms of LU was credited with five saves.

Linfield attained a 20-9 edge in ground balls and a 22-13 advantage in draw controls. Shade led the Wildcats with 13 draw controls and five caused turnovers. She was 3 of 4 on free-position shots on offense. Shade and Wright each recorded four ground balls. For Willamette, Richardson-Pepper supplied six draw controls and forced three turnovers. Jennings also achieved three turnovers.

Up next for the Bearcats is a home game against Pacific University on Wednesday, April 17. Game time for the NWC match-up at Sparks Field is set for 5 p.m. (PDT).