SPOKANE, Wash. – On a day when Whitworth recognized its senior class, all three Pirate seniors who played made a big impact on a 17-5 win over visiting Pacific University in a Northwest Conference lacrosse match on Saturday afternoon at the Pine Bowl.
Senior Rebecca Irwin had four goals and four assists for a team-high eight points to help Whitworth improve to 12-4 overall and 8-3 in the NWC. Fellow senior Abby Hahn had three goals and two assists. Senior back up goal keeper Faith Rempfer made four saves in the fourth quarter.
Sidney Nichols and Maddie Jennings, two senior defenders, were injured but still officially started the contest and came out after the initial draw control.
Not to be lost in the midst of the senior celebration was a five-goal match from first-year attacker Campbell Vincent, making her the first Pirate player to ever score 50 goals in one season.
Pacific (2-13, 0-11 NWC) scored the match's first goal and led 2-1 in search of its first conference win of the season. But Whitworth scored eight straight goals to take control over the rest of the first quarter and the first half of the second quarter. Nikki Beers and Vincent scored goals in the final 20 seconds of the half to give the Bucs a 12-3 lead at halftime. Vincent scored four of her goals in the first two quarters.
Whitworth scored the only three goals of the third quarter to start a running clock. Irwin had two of those, including one goal in a player-down situation for the Pirates.
Hyland Cullen-Musengo scored twice in the fourth quarter for the Boxers.
Whitworth outshot Pacific 39-14 after forcing 25 turnovers from the Boxers. The Bucs also won 17 of the 25 draw controls.
Sierra Witte had seven draw controls for the Pirates and a pair of ground balls. Amelie Deese caused three turnovers and came up with a pair of ground balls. Sage Fosnock made five saves and allowed three goals as the Bucs' starting keeper, while Rempfer allowed two goals.
The Pirates will close out the regular season by hosting Willamette on Sunday at 1:00 pm. A Whitworth win would create a tie for second place in the NWC standings with the Bearcats.
