By: Ryan Lackey

NEWBERG, Ore. --- The Bruins maintained their perfect record in the Northwest Conference with a 16-6 win over Whitman College on Saturday afternoon. Alexa Nakashimada spurred the Bruins offensively, bagging six goals, and Mikaela Easterlin was a force in goal, making 15 saves.

Recap:
The Bruins, who have been steamrolling conference opponents, faced a stiffer task in Whitman, and the game was close through the end of the first half. Easterlin made several sharp saves to prevent Whitman from scoring the opening goal; eventually, it was the Bruins's Ashlie Hernandez who began the scoring with a strong shot inside the circle three minutes in.

But Whitman drew even seconds later on Anna Melville's angled shot. The Bruins scored again on Nakashimada's first goal, but Lindsay Schwartz converted a free position shot soon afterwards to level the score at 2-2.

The teams traded goals again, but at 3-3 the Bruins made their first run: three quick goals for Nakashimada—one from the left, one from the right, and a free position shot—plus a Jess Hanson goal put the Bruins up 8-3. Melville grabbed another, though, to made the score 8-4 at halftime.

In the second half, the Bruins only got better. Easterlin seemed impassable in the second half, making nine saves, and frustrated Whitman attacks turned consistently into Bruin goals. Miranda Edwords and Christine Doherty both scored twice times soon after halftime. Nakashimada claimed another, and Doherty finished her hat-trick with two minutes to go.

Hanson's free position goal at the buzzer made the final a 16-6 win for the Bruins.

Top Performers:
Nakashimada added an assist to her six goals. Doherty and Edwords both had hat-tricks and a single assist. Hanson and Hernandez scored twice. Easterlin smothered 15 saves.

What It Means:
The Bruins are 7-3 overall and a perfect 5-0 in conference.

What Comes Next:
Next Friday, the Bruins host Colorado College.