SPOKANE, Wash. – Behind an offensive onslaught of 22 goals, the Linfield Wildcats downed the Whitworth Pirates, 22-5 at the Pine Bowl on Saturday. Jenna Hessel had career-high seven goals in the match.
 
Linfield picks up its first win of the season and moves to 1-2 on the season overall and in the Northwest Conference. Saturday was the conference and season opener for the Pirates.
 
The Wildcats scored their first goal less than a minute into the match as Bethany Shade scored an unassisted goal. Pirates got to within 5-2, but the Wildcats scored eight straight goals to lead 13-2 at the half.
 
With running clock in effect to start the second half, Whitworth narrowed the margin to nine on goals by Kylee Walker and Aunnika Lang, Linfield answered with seven straight goals. Madison Perry had two goals for the Pirates and Carcie Chappell had the other goal.
 
Hessel led the match with seven goals, Josie Duey was second on the team with six points (four goals, two assists). Shade (four goals, one assist) and Maia Rezoski (three goals, two assists) had five points. Freshman Emma Vande Brake scored two goals and had two assists and freshman Emma Robbins scored two goals as well.
 
Linfield had the 21-7 edge in draw controls, Shade won 16 of them. She also led the team with four caused turnovers. Rezoski collected three groundballs.
 
In net, Epi Roldan-Rayo made four saves in the first half. Freshman goalkeeper Lizzy Harms made her college debut in the second half and made a save, allowing just two goals. Tori Schauer had four saves for Whitworth in the first half and Madison Gotthardt had two saves in the second half.
 
The Wildcats more than doubled the shot attempts by the Pirates, 30-12 and went 7 for 8 in clear attempts. Whitworth was 6 for 8 in its clear attempts.
 
UP NEXT
Linfield remains in Spokane overnight and takes on Whitworth on Sunday at 1 p.m.