Newberg, Oregon – Whitman and Willamette will meet in the 2026 Northwest Conference Women’s Lacrosse Championship after both earned semifinal victories Friday at the Austin Sports Complex.
Willamette University edged George Fox 7-6 in a tightly contested semifinal featuring multiple lead changes and a late rally. George Fox opened the scoring with a goal from Lana Davis in the first quarter, but Willamette stayed within reach and trailed just 3-2 after 15 minutes.
The Bearcats took control defensively in the second and third quarters, holding George Fox scoreless in both frames while building a 4-3 halftime lead. Willamette extended its advantage to 6-3 early in the fourth quarter before George Fox responded with three consecutive goals from Ava Bluhm and Merrick Gibson to tie the game at 6-6.
With momentum shifting, Claire Kisielnicki delivered the decisive goal with 2:41 remaining to put Willamette back in front. George Fox was unable to generate a shot in the closing minutes as Willamette secured the win behind key defensive stops and effective player-up opportunities.
In the second semifinal, Whitman College powered past Lewis & Clark 18-13 behind a record-setting performance from Sarah Hawkins. Hawkins finished with four goals and five assists for a nine-point outing, leading an offense that never trailed after taking a 4-3 first-quarter lead.
Whitman spread the scoring across seven players and held a 34-20 advantage in shots. Lindsey Pasena-Littlesky added four goals and Emily Odegaard contributed three, providing key support alongside Hawkins.
Lewis & Clark was led by Aviana Gonzales, who recorded six goals and one assist, while Sage Swegle and Mack Searle added three goals each, and Ala Cross tallied seven assists. The Pioneers stayed within reach after Whitman built a second-quarter lead and briefly cut the deficit to one in the third, but the Blues responded with timely scoring runs to maintain control. Renn Novak earned the win in goal for Whitman, while Phoebe Labuhn made eight saves for Lewis & Clark.
Whitman and Willamette will play for the NWC Tournament title on Sunday, May 3, at 1:00 p.m. at the Austin Sports Complex on the campus of George Fox University. The winner will earn the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Tournament.