Box Score McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Whitworth dominated for three quarters on the way for an 11-7 win at Linfield in a Northwest Conference lacrosse match on Saturday afternoon.
The Pirates improved to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the NWC while the Wildcats fell to 1-2, 0-2. Eight different Whitworth players scored a goal in the match, but it was the defense that made the difference, limiting Linfield to a season-low for goals and holding the Cats to no goals in six free position attempts.
Linfield got on the board first when Starr Pfleiger scored less than five minutes into the match. But the Pirates quickly took control by scoring the next five goals. Rebecca Irwin got the Bucs on the board with a goal halfway through the first quarter. After winning the next draw control, Megan Whitman scored only 30 seconds later to give Whitworth a lead it would never give up. Sierra Witte and Nikki Beers scored later in the period and the Pirates led 4-1 after one.
Kenison Turner scored for the Bucs only 20 seconds into the second quarter to complete the 5-0 run. The rest of the second was defensive with only two more goals. Gabby Crist scored for Linfield and Whitman tallied her second of the match for Whitworth with only 43 seconds left. Sage Fosnock made three saves in the second quarter to help the Pirates take a 6-2 lead at halftime.
Linfield scored first in the third on a player-up situation with 8:37 left, but Witte answered only seconds later for Whitworth. Campbell Vincent scored for an 8-3 lead and then Kenzie Hemman scored with the Pirates a player down late in the third for a 9-3 advantage.
Christ scored again for the Wildcats to open the fourth, but as happened throughout the match, Whitworth answered quickly on Vincent's second goal of the contest. When Jordyn Bennett scored with 8:30 left, the Pirates led 11-4 and had essentially put the game away. Linfield got three late goals to trim the final margin.
Witte won four of Whitworth's 11 draw controls. She also caused three Linfield turnovers and had a team-high five ground balls. The Pirate defense caused 14 turnovers in the match. Fosnock finished with eight saves in their fourth win of the season in goal.
Whitworth will take on defending NWC champion George Fox on Sunday afternoon to complete the trip to Oregon.
