Bachiochi Earns Six Goals and Two Assists as Bearcats Defeat Boxers, 19-10

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Lily Bachiochi (So., ATT, Henderson, NV/Coronado HS) scored six goals and provided two assists, supplying the Willamette University Bearcats with momentum as they rallied from a 7-4 deficit in the second quarter on their way to 19-10 victory over Pacific University on Saturday, March 4. Bachiochi moved past the 100-point mark in her career and now has 104 points on 53 goals and 51 assists.

After falling behind, Willamette outscored the Boxers 15-3 in the final 41 minutes. WU owned an 8-7 lead at halftime and created an 11-3 scoring edge in the second half.

The Bearcats improved to 4-1 overall and to 2-1 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific fell to 1-4 on the season, 0-3 in the NWC.

Bachiochi's six goals tied her with several Willamette players for sixth place on the Bearcats' single-game scoring list. WU players have scored six goals eight times in school history, including Bachiochi with six goals at Pacific in a 15-1 win on March 30, 2022. The eight points by Bachiochi tied her for fifth on WU's all-time list. It was the fifth time she has earned eight points in a game. Teammate Catie Kawamura (Sr., ATT, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) has recorded eight points twice, once in 2021 and once in 2022.

Joining Bachiochi on the goal scoring sheet in Saturday's win were Tati Klenk (Sr., ATT, Truckee, CA/Tahoe Truckee HS) with five goals, Kawamura and Claire Kisielnicki (Fy., ATT, Manitou Springs, CO/Manitou Springs HS) with three goals each, and Maddie Garcia (Sr., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) with two goals. In addition to Bachiochi's two assists, Garcia, Kawamura, and Kendyl Jennings (Jr., MID, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) each added one assist.

"We got it done, but it wasn't what we planned to execute collectively as a team from start to finish," Willamette Head Women's Lacrosse Coach Sarah Lautenbach said. "We hope to use this experience to build and grow as we move deeper into conference play."

Three Pacific players each scored three goals. They were Mia White, Devyn Davis, and Taylor Alclaire. Sarah Pokomy contributed one goal and one assist. Davis also had one assist, while Hyland Cullen-Museng achieved one assist.

Klenk of Willamette opened the scoring with a goal at the 10:24 mark in the first quarter. Davis won the ensuing draw control for the Boxers and scored 12 seconds later to tie the game. The teams exchanged the next four goals, creating a 3-3 tie. White, who forced the third tie, scored again with 3:09 left in the quarter to give Pacific its first lead at 4-3. The Boxers tacked on two goals by Alclaire to end the quarter with a 6-3 advantage.

Bachiochi, who scored once in the opening quarter, added a goal with 12:07 to play in the half, pulling the Bearcats within 6-4. After Alclaire tallied her third goal for Pacific, Bachiochi scored again at 10:35 to start a four-goal surge by Willamette to end the half. Klenk hit the inside of the net with a shot as the clock reached 7:23 and Bachiochi scored at 6:52. Klenk soon added another goal at 6:04, giving WU the 8-7 lead it held at halftime.

Klenk earned her fifth goal of the game with 13:29 left in the third quarter to increase Willamette's margin to 9-7. Pokomy scored next for Pacific at the 12:12 mark before the Bearcats answered with goals by Kawamura, Kisielnicki, Bachiochi, and Garcia to expand the lead to 13-8 with 7:20 left in the quarter.

Pacific moved within 13-10 by earning the final two goals in the third period, but Willamette outscored the Boxers 6-0 in the final quarter to pull away. Kisielnicki and Kawamura each scored two of the goals, while Bachiochi and Garcia both tacked on one goal.

Willamette outshot Pacific 34-17 during the game, including a 21-7 advantage in the second half. WU held a 28-13 lead in shots on target. The Bearcats also gained a 19-13 edge in draw controls despite the Boxers owning a 6-3 margin in the first quarter. Garcia led Willamette with nine draw controls, while Kawamura added three. Garcia, Klenk, and goalie Shelby Sawyer (Sr., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) each recorded two ground balls. Garcia and Kawamura each forced two turnovers.

The Bearcats will take on Linfield University at Sparks Field on the Willamette campus on Sunday, March 5. Game time in Salem, Oregon, is set for 1 p.m. (PST).