SALEM, Ore. – The George Fox University women's lacrosse team crushed the Willamette Bearcats with a 20-9 win that featured six different Bruins scoring.
How It Happened
Lana Davis started the game off by scoring when the Bruins were a man down. A minute later,
Ava Bluhm assisted
Sasha Thayer, making it 2-0. Willamette followed with a goal of their own, and then another from a free position shot, tying up the game.
Alli Stilp gained the ball back after a turnover and took it all the way, putting the Bruins up by one, 3-2. Fox got a free position shot moments later, Davis took it, and successfully put it in the back of the net. Bluhm got her second assist of the game, connecting with
Claire Abraham, making it 5-2 after one.
Two minutes into the second period, Davis assisted Stilp for her second goal of the game. Willamette answered in the 12th minute, 6-3. Bluhm didn't let them have that thrill for long, though, and exactly a minute later scored, 7-3. Fox wasn't done and proceeded to go on a 6-0 run. Davis scored on her second free-position shot of the game. After a ground ball pickup by Bluhm,
Merrick Gibson scored and then scored again in the fifth minute. Davis scored again, and with less than a minute left, Gibson got another one. Davis then immediately followed with one of her own, the score now 13-3.
The Bearcats started the third with a goal, 13-4. Directly after, Gibson was on fire and scored her fourth goal of the game. Willamette scored its fifth goal, now 14-5. Thayer answered immediately, with a goal assisted by Davis and Abraham followed by a goal assisted by Bluhm, 16-5. A few minutes later, Abraham got another one, this time Davis with the assist, 17-5.
For the fourth period, Stilp won the opening draw control and took it all the way to the goal for the Bruins. The Bearcats scored two goals in the 10th and eight minute, 18-7. Bluhm got her fourth assist with a goal scored by Davis. Bluhm scored her own goal in the third minute, assisted by Thayer. Willamette snuck two more goals in the last couple of minutes, but it didn't impact the 20-9 win for the Bruins.
Top Performances
Lana Davis led with six goals, had three assists, and won 10 draw controls.
Ava Bluhm scored two, had four assists, and won three draw controls.
Alli Stilp had three goals, three draw controls, and two caused turnovers.
Merrick Gibson scored four goals,
Claire Abraham scored three, and
Sasha Thayer had two.
Jasmine Uresti had four caused turnovers. Kat Ellet had three saves in goal and got the win.
Coach's Thoughts
"We kept composure and played well today," said Bruin head coach
Jordyn Merkel.
What It Means
The Bruins are now 4-1 overall. The Bearcats are 2-2.
What Comes Next
The Bruins will travel to Sewanee, Tenn., to play against Rhodes on Sunday, March 22nd, and Sewanee on Tuesday, March 24th.