SPOKANE, Wash. – Mountaineer Women's Lacrosse made history Saturday afternoon, picking up the first official win in program history. Eastern Oregon took down NCAA Division III foe Whitworth University, 8-6, to start the 2022 campaign 1-0.

How it Happened
• The Mountaineers offense racked up 26 shots total and had 16 on goal. The Pirates, who denoted the game as an exhibition, put up three more to finish with 29.
• Whitworth (0-0) also had the edge in shots on goal with 23. Helping the Mountaineers in the win was a man-up opportunity in the third period that led to a goal.
• The Pirates also led the way in ground ball pickups at 19-14. Both teams had a barrage of turnovers as Whitworth surrendered 20, while Eastern had 23.
• Ball distribution and fast passes helped EOU tally three assists in the win. In net, freshman Brooklynn Wright shined in her collegiate debut holding the Pirates to just six goals.
• The opening period was the highest scoring of the four as the two squads combined for five goals. The Pirates led 3-2 after the first frame.
• The first official goal in EOU history went to freshman Abigail Burkeen. She found a quick crease down the middle and scored at the 11:52 mark to give EOU a 1-0 edge.
• Whitworth responded, scoring the next three goals to race ahead 3-1. They tied it at 1-1 in the 8:28 mark before a goal nearly two minutes later put the team ahead 2-1.
• Leading, 2-1, the Pirates managed to sneak a goal past Wright at the 4:02 mark to put themselves ahead by two goals. They looked to keep the score there, but EOU responded.
• With 63 seconds left to play in the first, sophomore Samantah Buckley began her four-goal afternoon ripping one past the goalie. Buckley's goal made it a 3-2 game after one.
• The first Buckley goal created a momentum shift as EOU then scored the first two of the second period to lead 2-0. A 2-1 edge in goal for Eastern tied the game at 4-all going into halftime.
• Freshman Claire Bever tacked on the first goal of the frame at the 13:54 mark. She got through the side and found the back of the net on a quick shot to tie the game at 3-3.
• Buckley gave the Mounties the lead yet again at the 8:38 mark. Off a quick turnover, Buckley raced down the field and blew by her defender for the score to make it a 4-3 game.
• Whitworth scored with 6:45 left to play in the first half, tying the contest at 4-4. From then on, both teams' defenses and goalie were stout and did not allow a goal the rest of the period.
• Through the first four minutes of the third, neither team scored. Whitworth ended the scoring drought at the 10:22 mark with a goal to go ahead 5-4.
• The Pirates scored the first two goals of the third period, as their second one came on an own goal by the Mounties. EOU held composure though and never let Whitworth score again the rest of the game.
• The Mounties scored twice in the final nine minutes of the third to tie the contest at 6-all. Kate McAfee sparked what was ultimately a 4-0 run with a goal at the 4:14 mark of the third.
• Sydney Vopat got the assist on McAfee's goal as she found her on the right side of the eight-meter arc. The quick pass allowed McAfee to cut back inside for the goal. 
• The second goal of the period came from Buckley once again to give her a hat trick. A yellow card by Whitworth allowed for the man-up goal.
• Credited with the assists was Burkeen who found Buckley in stride on the right side for the goal. Buckey's made shot sent the game into the fourth tied at 6-6.
• Both goals for the Mounties came in the first five minutes of the fourth period and from then on it was their defense that drove them to victory.
• Buckley scored the first goal of the period at the 12:47 mark. She received a smooth lob pass from Kiana Watchman that set up the fast shot and score.
• Just over two minutes later, Bever tacked on her second goal of the day to bring the score to its final of 8-6. She caused a turnover, picked up the ground ball and raced down the right side for the goal. 
• The Pirates were held to just five shots the entire fourth period, with four coming in the seven minutes. Despite their efforts, Wright and the Mountie defense posted the fourth period shutout to secure the historical first win.

Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Samantha Buckley scored four goals for the hat trick. She tied the team-high in shots with eight and had six come on goal.
• Claire Bever scored twice on three shot attempts. She also had five ground balls and caused two turnovers.
• Abigail Burkeen scored once, had an assist, and had three ground ball pickups.
• Kate McAfee won five draw controls and scored one goal. She also tied the team-high in shots with eight.
• Kiana Watchman and Sydney Vopat each tallied an assist.
• In net, Brooklynn Wright racked up 17 saves in the win (1-0). She played all 60 minutes.

For the Pirates
• Rebecca Irwin tallied seven shots, with five coming on goal and scored once. 
• Abby Hahn also had seven shots, with each being on goal. She scored one goal.
• Kyle Walker had one goal, an assist, and won nine draw controls to lead all players.
• In net, Sage Fosnock tallied eight saves.

By the Numbers
1 - Saturday's win is the first official win in program history for EOU.
4- Samantha Buckley's four goals are officially a single-game career-high.
17- Brooklynn Wright's debut also saw her tally a career best 17 saves.
1 - This is the first collegiate win for Head Coach Monica Plut.
4 - The Mountaineers had four different players score in the win.

Up Next
• The Mountaineers play their first home games of the year this weekend when they host two teams over a two-day span.
• Up first for Eastern is Willamette on Saturday, Feb. 19. The next day, Sunday, Feb. 20, EOU takes on Linfield. Game time is set for 1 p.m. both days.

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