McMINNVILLE, Ore.  – Genna Hughes scored six goals, sparking the Linfeld Wildcats to a 12-9 Northwest Conference victory over the visiting Puget Sound Loggers at Maxwell Field Sunday afternoon.
 
The win was the Wildcats' second in as many days after a string of 18 straight conference defeats.
 
"It may not have been the most beautiful lacrosse match but we dug deep to grit out the win," said interim head coach Brittany Hartmann.  "It's early on in the season, so we aren't quite game fit yet. I told them to work hard when you're tired and they did just that. They gave everything mentally and physically that they had in the tank today and it paid off in the end."
 
Hughes, who only recently turned out for the team after spending the winter playing basketball, took no time putting the ball into the goal, scoring 2:49 into the match.  Ella Frazer netted the equalizer for the Loggers two minutes later before Linfield went on a five-goal scoring spree over the next 15 minutes. Gabriella Moe added two of her three goals in the first half and Maddie Cole notched her two goals for the game as Linfield built a 7-4 halftime advantage. Alex Jensen tallied only goal in the first half as well.
 
Linfield outshot the Loggers 11-7 in the half as the 'Cats put seven of the shots on goal to the Logger's five. Kylee Duey made one save for the 'Cats during the first 30 minutes.
 
Four-and-a-half minutes into the second half, Hughes turned into a scoring machine, notching three straight goals in a span of seven minutes to make the score 10-4. Moe added another goal with 13 minutes remaining but Puget Sound made a short run, scoring three straight goals of its own. Hughes then notched her final goal for the afternoon to put the game out of reach.
 
Cole led the team in assists with two while Jenna Hessel and Nathaly Sanchez set up one goal each.  Linfield outshot the Loggers 23-18. Duey made seven saves in goal. Epi Roldan-Rayo relieved Duey with nine minutes remaining. Loggers netminder Ali Benko made three saves.
 
Next
The 'Cats host a non-league match Friday against Baldwin Wallace of Ohio.  The match begins a 5 pm. 
 
Cat scratch
The last time Linfield began a lacrosse season with straight wins was 2004 when the Wildcats reeled off five straight wins.