Willamette Pulls Away from Occidental for 19-9 Victory in Women's Lacrosse

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Willamette University held an 11-7 lead at halftime and the Bearcats went on a 7-1 run to start the second half, on their way to a 19-9 win over Occidental College in a women's lacrosse game on Wednesday, March 27. Lily Bachiochi (Jr., ATT, Henderson, NV/Coronado HS) scored four goals and two assists for Willamette, while Shea Richardson-Pepper (Jr., DEF/MID, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) added four goals and one assist.

Kendyl Jennings (Sr., MID, Keizer, OR/McNary HS), Alyssa Molisee (Fy., MID/ATT, Henderson, NV/Nevada State HS), and Brooklynn Pearl (So., MID, Eugene, OR/Willamette HS) each tallied three goals for the Bearcats. Claire Kisielnicki (So., ATT, Manitou Springs, CO/Manitou Springs HS) scored two goals, while Cedric Shaw (Fy., MID, Jamul, CA/Valhalla HS) provided one assist.

The win improved Willamette's overall record to 5-2. Occidental slipped to 4-4 on the season.

WU scored two of the game's first three goals as Jennings and Molissee shot into the net. The Tigers responded with three consecutive goals by three players -- Kelly Peir, Olivia Okamoto, and Gabriella Acker -- for a 4-2 lead at the 7:30 mark.

The Bearcats stormed back with a 5-1 run, starting with goals by Pearl at 7:22 and 6:08. Maeve Moylan scored next for Occidental, but WU followed with three goals to complete the run, as Richardson-Pepper scored, Molisee earned a player-advantage goal on a free-position shot, and Richardson-Pepper produced another goal. Moylan registered a goal for Occidental with 59 seconds left. Thirteen of the game's 28 goals were scored in the first quarter, with Willamette holding a 7-6 edge.

Willamette outscored the Tigers 4-1 in the second quarter to expand the lead. Two quick goals by Jennings at 12:58 and Bachiochi at 12:43 gave the Bearcats a 9-6 margin, and Bachiochi connected on a shot at 9:45 for WU's 10th goal. Ella Skoglund of Occidental earned a goal with 8:30 left in the half, and Molisee scored for the Bearcats with 3:47 remaining for an 11-7 advantage.

The Bearcats took control of the game with a 4-0 scoring margin in the third quarter plus three of the first four goals in the fourth quarter. The 7-1 run increased WU's lead to 18-8.

In the third quarter, Richardson-Pepper tallied the first two goals, while Bachiochi and Kisielnicki also produced goals. Acker earned her second goal of the game for the Tigers with 14:08 to play in the fourth quarter, before goals by Jennings and Pearl, plus a goal by Kiselnicki with 7:42 left, completed Willamette's run. Each team added a goal in the final three minutes for the final 19-9 score.

Acker's two goals were matched by Moylan for Occidental. Dylan Herbert finished with one goal and one assist for the Tigers.

Willamette outshot Occidental 32-17 overall and 25-15 in shots on goal. The Bearcats also gained a 23-11 advantage in ground balls, while the Tigers claimed a 19-12 margin in draw controls. WU goalie Olivia Austin (Fy., GK, San Diego, CA/La Jolla HS) and Occidental goalie Andie Angelacci each made six saves.

The Tigers committed 23 turnovers, while the Bearcats lost possession 12 times. Willamette was credited with 17 caused turnovers, including seven by Jay Shiflett (Fy., DEF, Glen Burnie, MD/Old Mill HS) and three by Bachiochi. Austin registered five ground balls to lead the Bearcats. Shiflett and Richardson-Pepper each provided four ground balls.

On Friday, March 29, the Bearcats will take on California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California. Game time is set for 11 a.m. PDT.