SALEM, Ore. – Claire Kisielnicki scored eight goals and added three assists to lead Willamette University to a 16-9 win over visiting Whitworth University in a non-conference women's lacrosse match on Sunday afternoon at Sparks Field.

The host Bearcats, favorites in the 2025 Northwest Conference preseason poll, won their opener.  The Pirates dropped to 0-2 and will look for their first win of the season when they host Eastern Oregon next Saturday at 11:00 am.

After a slow start offensively, Whitworth hung with Willamette through three quarters before the Bearcats outscored the Bucs 4-0 in the final period.

Willamette led 4-1 after one period and 8-3 at halftime.  Kisielnicki scored four straight goals for the Bearcats at one point and assisted on another.  Kenison Turner, Sierra Witte and Campbell Vincent had first half goals for the Pirates.

Whitworth got untracked offensively in the third quarter, outscoring the Bearcats 6-4.  Vincent scored consecutive goals late in the third to pull the Pirates within 11-9.  Kisielnicki added a goal for Willamette in the final seconds of the third to make it 12-9. 

Whitworth would not score in the final quarter as Kisielnicki scored three more times for the Bearcats. 

The Pirates won 19 of the 29 draw controls, but turned the ball over 26 times.  Willamette had a 25-12 edge in ground balls.

Vincent led Whitworth with three goals and an assist.  Witte and Turner each finished with a pair of goals and an assist.  Nikki Beers and Megan Whitman also scored for the Bucs.

Sage Fosnock started in goal for Whitworth and made four saves while allowing 15 goals.  Kayla Jones played 11:37 of the match and gave up one goal while stopping one shot. 

Olivia Austin started in net for Willamette and had seven saves against the nine goals allowed.