SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth University earned its first-ever NCAA Division III lacrosse victory against Willamette University by holding on to defeat the visiting Bearcats 11-10 in a non-conference match on Sunday afternoon at the Pine Bowl.
The Pirates (1-2) used a seven-goal second period to build a six-goal lead that would prove just enough to defeat the Bearcats (2-1). Whitworth had lost its 13 previous games against Willamette, dating to 2019.
The Pirates started quickly, scoring the first three goals before the game was even two minutes old. After Whitworth won the opening draw, Jordyn Bennett scored 36 seconds into the match from an assist by Peyton Green. The Bucs won the next draw and Sierra Witte scored from an assist by Bennett. Another draw control led to Campbell Vincent's goal from an assist by Witte with only 1:39 gone in the contest.
Willamette recovered and scored the next four goals of the first quarter, including two straight by Shelby Wilkinson, to take a 4-3 lead after the opening period.
The Pirate offense got off to a hot start again in the second, scoring twice in the first minute. Vincent scored her second of the game only six seconds into the period. Megan Whitman scored from an assist by Witte twenty seconds later to put the Pirates back in the lead. The Pirates continued to win draws and control possession for most of the rest of the quarter, getting five more goals. Whitman scored two more, Vincent scored again and Green scored off an assist by Vincent. Rose Frezza scored from an assist by Kenison Turner to give the Bucs a 10-4 lead with 2:49 left in the game. Willamette got one back just before halftime on a goal by Claire Kisielnicki.
Syd Shoemaker and Priya Mistry scored for Willamette in the first two-and-a-half minutes of the third quarter to get the Bearcats within 10-7, but neither team scored again the rest of the period.
Mistry tallied again with 12:21 left in the fourth quarter and Wilkinson got her team within 10-9 one minute later. Witte fed Bennett for what proved to be the match-winning goal for Whitworth with 8:38 to play. Shoemaker scored the Bearcats' final goal with 5:51 left.
Turner had a chance to cinch the win with a free position shot in the final two minutes, but it was saved. Willamette had the ball for most of the match's final minute of play, but the Whitworth defense came away with a steal and ran out the clock.
Shots finished 24-23 in favor of Willamette. The Bearcats also ended with a 12-10 edge in draw controls. Whitman won six of the Pirates' ten draw controls.
Charlotte Norton made six saves in net for the Pirates to earn her first career victory as a Whitworth goal keeper.
Whitworth will return to action next Friday with a contest against Carthage (Wis.) in Walla Walla.
