McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Sidney Tripke had four goals and two assists in her Pirate debut, but Whitworth lost 16-9 at Linfield in a season-opening lacrosse match on Saturday night.

The Pirates (0-1) will take on defending Northwest Conference champion George Fox on Sunday. 

Tripke's goal tied the match 1-1 in the early going.  But Linfield (1-1, 1-0) responded with four straight scores, including Josie Duey's second of the match, to go ahead 5-1.  Duey scored again with 3:17 to go and the Wildcats led 8-3 at halftime.

Jordan Cain scored twice in the second period for Whitworth, the second coming with 16:58 to play, to cut the margin to 11-7.  The Wildcats scored the next three goals to put the match away.

Carcie Chappell and Kylee Walker scored their initial goals as Whitworth players as well.  Trinity Frank, the Pirates' top returning scorer from 2019, tallied her first goal of the season.

Madison Gotthardt made eight saves in goal for the Bucs.