SALEM, Ore. – Willamette scored ten consecutive goals in the first half on the way to an 18-5 Northwest Conference lacrosse victory over visiting Whitworth on Saturday afternoon.

Maddie Garcia and Catie Kawamura scored four goals each help the Bearcats improve to 5-3 overall and 5-3 in the NWC.  Kylee Walker had a pair of goals for the Pirates (0-3, 0-3).

Liliann Penfield scored at just over five minutes into the first half for Whitworth to tie the match 1-1.  The Bearcats then reeled off ten consecutive goals to break open the match.  Kawamura scored all four of her goals during that run for Willamette.

Walker ended that scoring run with a free position goal to pull the Bucs within 11-2.  The Bearcats scored the next three goals to go into halftime ahead 14-2.

Willamette scored the first three goals of the second half, including Garcia's final tally of the game, to open a 17-2 lead.  Walker scored her second goal with 3:20 left and Jenae Mercado scored with seven seconds left to help the Pirates end the match with consecutive goals scored.

Tori Schauer played the entire match in goal for Whitworth and made a pair of saves while facing 20 shots on goal.

Shelby Sawyer and Katie Hill split time in goal for Willamette.

The teams will play each other again on Sunday at 1:00 pm.