SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth led preseason Northwest Conference lacrosse favorite Willamette 11-8 midway through the third quarter, but the visiting Bearcats closed the match on a 9-1 run to defeat the Pirates 17-12 on Friday afternoon at the Pine Bowl.

Campbell Vincent had six goals and an assist for Whitworth (5-6 overall, 2-3 NWC), who had a chance at its first-ever victory over Willamette (7-5, 4-1).

The Pirates jumped out to a 4-0 lead five minutes into the match and Vincent had three of those goals.  Kenison Turner's goal made it 6-2 in favor of the Bucs and Whitworth led 7-4 after one period.  Sierra Witte had two goals in the first for the Pirates.

Led by Lily Bachiochi, Willamette scored the first four goals of the second quarter to go in front 8-7.  Bachiochi had three of those scores.  Whitworth regrouped and scored the final two goals of the half, both by Vincent, to take a 9-8 lead at halftime.

Vincent scored again early in the third, and Witte scored midway through the period to give the Pirates their 11-8 lead.  The Bucs would only score once more the rest of the way.

Bachiochi scored several more goals for Willamette to key the comeback.  She also assisted on a pair by Claire Kisielnicki that tied the match at 11 and then gave the Bearcats a 12-11 lead.  After Megan Whitman scored to get Whitworth within 14-12, Alex Warfel answered for Willamette and Bachiochi tallied the final two of the match.

Willamette outshot Whitworth 32-23 and the Bearcats forced 29 Pirate turnovers while committing 18.  Whitworth was whistled for 28 fouls and Willamette had 18. 

Vincent scored six goals in one match, which ties her own school record, for the third time this season.  Witte added three goals and two assists.  Kenzie Hemman had nine of Whitworth's 19 draw controls.  Megan Whitman tallied five draw controls, four ground balls, two caused turnovers and one goal and one assist.  Sage Fosnock played 24 minutes in goal and allowed seven goals while making four saves.  Kayla Jones played 36 minutes and gave up 10 goals with seven saves.

Bachiochi finished with nine goals and two assists for 11 total points.  Kisielnicki added five goals.  Shae Richardson-Pepper had five draw controls, four caused turnovers and two ground balls.  Olivia Austin made six saves in net for the Bearcats.

Whitworth will try to rebound when the Pirates host Lewis & Clark College on Saturday at 1:00 pm in the final home game of the 2025 season.