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WELCOME TO LINFIELD UNIVERSITY

game operations | event staff

EVENT MANAGER

Casey Powell

COMMUNICATIONS

Conner Jensen, Kelly Bird

STATISTICS

Sydney Pfleiger, McKenzie Heckman

PENALTY MONITOR

Mia Arellano

PUBLIC ADDRESS AND SCOREBOARD

Emerson Teller

PLAY CLOCK

Julia Alvarez

VIDEO WEBCASTS

Johnny Miller, Ethan Kline, Joe Stuart, Joel Nelson

GAME PROGRAM

Kelly Bird, Conner Jensen, Felipe Unker

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WILDCAT SPOTLIGHT

positive impact

With a plan of becoming a child therapist, Savannah Irwin’s SMART goal-setting process is clearly attainable

by Kellen wiggins ’28

From the moment Savannah Irwin first picked up a lacrosse stick in third grade, she knew she had found a special passion. Introduced to lacrosse by a teacher during a school field day, Irwin’s passion for the niche sport ignited quickly and grew into something bigger. While she dabbled in other sports growing up, it was lacrosse that truly captivated her. Now a standout player at Linfield University, Irwin has turned that early love for the game into a collegiate career defined by hard work, dedication and a drive to push both herself and her team to new heights.

The Bend, Oregon, native was first introduced to lacrosse by her third-grade teacher, Mr. Shaffer, during a field day. Irwin’s interest was quickly captured by the sport. She took her new interest to recess with her friends. Irwin became fascinated by the sport that’s been steadily gaining a foothold up and down the West Coast. She soon realized she wanted to pursue lacrosse outside of school.

“Mr. Shaffer introduced lacrosse to our class during our first field day and I immediately fell in love,” says Irwin, reflecting back to her grade school days. “After playing with the students in my class at recess, I knew I wanted to play outside of school.”

Although Irwin gave other sports a try struck a chord with her the same way that la crosse did. Irwin credits the level of teamwork and trust needed to succeed in lacrosse as key reasons she chose lacrosse over other sports.

“While I played many sports growing up such as volleyball and track and field, I chose lacrosse because of the level of teamwork that is needed to excel in games,” she said. “As in many other sports, you need to be able to put full trust in your teammates to do what they’re supposed to do on the field. However, lacrosse takes a different type of trust.”

Irwin’s father, Brad, has enjoyed seeing the impact lacrosse has made on his daughter. He believes the game has given Savannah diverse ways of thinking and the proper work ethic that will take her far in life beyond her playing days.

“Lacrosse taught Savannah at an early age threedimensional thinking, team building and how to achieve success from practice and daily effort,” he says. “Lacrosse has also been a healthy outlet for Savannah’s naturally competitive spirit.”

Going into the 2025 season, Irwin made an intentional plan to focus on daily self-improvement. To achieve this, she established “SMART” goals, representing Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-Based objectives. Those major goals are then broken down into smaller ones made easier to accomplish in a consistent manner.

“I wanted to create SMART goals for myself,” she says. “Laying out my goals in this way allows me to break down a larger goal into smaller, achievable steps that I can work towards every day.”

Now a senior, Irwin is an established leader on the team and is currently leading the squad in points production with 12 goals and 11 assists. She calls her first collegiate goal one of the most memorable moments as a Wildcat. It gave her the necessary confidence she needed to get her career started on the right note.

Scoring that very first goal in the midst of her maiden season “showed myself and my teammates that I had the IQ, execution and skills necessary to be a threat on the attacking end of the field.”

Irwin finds it especially important to have a focus on her own personal concerns. Student-athletes are constantly managing a bevy of demands, whether it’s academics, practice, weightlifting, film sessions or

s very important to focus on selfcare and allow yourself to take mental breaks and do the things you love.

I achieve this by spending quality time with my friends, going on hikes, cooking or connecting with my family members from back home.”

Wanting to make a difference in people’s lives, Irwin plans to pursue a master’s degree after she graduates from Linfield in May. She’s interested in child therapy because it’s a career that she can positively influence her clients.

It’s a field that’s important to me. I’ve always wanted a career where I can benefit the people I’m working with.”

Irwin is interested in coaching down the line as well. With her established work ethic and teamwork skills, there’s no question Irwin will impact many lives in the future.

LINFIELD LACROSSE COMPLEX

THE DREAM OF A MODERN lacrosse and soccer facility at Linfield became reality in 2020.

In Phase 1 of the project, the natural grass field was converted to FieldTurfTM, providing Linfield teams an ideal year-round practice and playing surface while substantially reducing maintenance and game setup costs. The field was draped with branded mesh screening, providing for a more

intimate and enclosed setting. Six enclosed storage spaces to house team equipment and supplies are included.

Phase 2 calls for a new seating for 250 spectators as well as an adjoining paved plaza. It includes construction of a new pressbox on the west side of the field. Dressing rooms are part of a multi-purpose structure planned for the stadium’s northwest corner. The new

building will contain a dressing room for visiting teams and game officials, restrooms and a concession stand.

Under the leadership of Linfield alumnus Rob Gloeckner of Tarkett Sports, the grass field was converted to a FieldTurfTM surface.

The custom-branded storage containers are being furnished by Boxwell co-founder Rod Bolls, a former Wildcats soccer player.

25% off First Month’s

plus Free Security Lock. Two McMinnville locations on Lafayette Ave. Providing customers with a secure, clean, well-lit and convenient

HEAD COACH SARAH DALSEY

from the ground up

Sarah Dalsey is steadily breathing new life into the Linfield lacrosse program, growing expectations for future success

Sarah Dalsey is in her third year as women’s lacrosse coach at Linfield. She is the ninth women’s lacrosse coach in the program’s 26-year history.

Before coming to Linfield, Dalsey worked for one year at NCSA Sports, connecting prospective students and families with collegiate athletic programs that fit their interests and needs. In 2020, she worked at Pro-Fit in West Berlin, New Jersey, managing administrative and financial workflows.

Dalsey’s administrative experience also includes internships at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland, where she assisted the director of athletics with a variety of essential tasks, and at Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York, where she served one year in the athletics communications office.

Her coaching resume features three years as an assistant women’s lacrosse coach at McDaniel and two years assisting at Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan. In addition, Dalsey was head coach of the Nike Girls Lacrosse Camp at McDaniel College and Pace University, and led club travel teams in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.

Dalsey completed a bachelor’s degree in Sports Studies and Communications/Media Studies at Manhattanville College. She went on to earn a master’s degree in kinesiology from McDaniel while serving as a graduate assistant coach.

sarah dalsey

MEET THE WILDCATS

Maya wright | 2

5-3 | Senior | M/A West Linn, Oregon

evelyn cross | 5 5-5 | Freshman | A San Diego, California

Gabby crist | 7

5-5 | Junior | M Lake Oswego, Oregon

Madison de la trinidad | 3

5-8 | Freshman | A/D West Los Angeles, California

Elizabeth Long | 13 5-0 | Sophomore | D Cottage Grove, Minnesota

Mackenzie Kulick | 25

5-5 | Senior | M/D The Woodlands, Texas

Grayce Miller | 20 5-1 | Junior | D San Diego, California

emma baker | 15

5-4 | Freshman | D San Diego, California

Kelsey Reinemer | 22 5-8 | Senior | D Redmond, Oregon

Maizri chandler | 28

5-8 | Junior | M/A Scappoose, Oregon

Caity babcock | 75

5-5 | Senior | GK Salinas, Califronia

Savannah irwin | 6 5-7 | Junior | O Bend, Oregon

Emma gallegos | 21 5-3 | Sophomore | D West Valleyt, Utah

Tenley hodge | 99

5-8 | Junior | GK Beaverton, Oregon

Sarah Dalsey Head Coach Third Year

Gracie pratt | 27 5-3 | Junior | D Carbondale, Colorado

Banking at Embold gets to the punt.

LINFIELD WILDCATS

PACIFIC LUTHERAN LUTES

LINFIELD VERSUS PACIFIC LUTHERAN

match breakdown

THE RECORDS

After an impressive offensive performance in its 18-3 win over Puget Sound, Linfield (3-2) remains undefeated at home and looks to maintain the perfect record this week with a midweek matchup against Berry (5-1) and today’s matchup against Northwest Conference lacrosse newcomer Pacific Lutheran (1-2). The Lutes played Cal Lutheran and Occidental earlier in the week.

LINFIELD AT A GLANCE

The Wildcats have had a solid start to the 2025 season, averaging 15 goals per match behind Mackenzie Kulick who ranks fifth in the NWC with 16 goals on the year. Gabby Crist takes the second spot in the conference in assists per game at 2.5 while also leading the team with nine caused turnovers. Savannah Irwin tops the team leaderboard in points, tallying 12 goals and 11 assists for 23 points. Tenley Hodge holds down the goalkeeper position with 24 saves to start off her junior season.

PACIFIC LUTHERAN AT A GLANCE

The Lutes won their season opener 12-6 against Eastern Oregon but have struggled to find their footing since, dropping matches to Lewis & Clark and Puget Sound. Taylee Alldredge’s nine goals lead the team and Annie Latimer distributes the offense, totaling five assists. Kassie Diller stands tall in the goal, registering 28 saves and an impressive .431 save percentage. Pacific Lutheran looks to increase its 7.3 goals per contest as the Lutes enter the heart of their schedule.

SERIES HISTORY

With this season being PLU’s first competing in the NWC, there has only been one contest between the Lutes and the Wildcats dating back to 2003 when the Lutes were a club team. Linfield dominated the game, securing a 10-1 victory.

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NORTHWEST CONFERENCE

LACROSSE STANDINGS

LINFIELD SPORTS NETWORK

The Linfield Sports Network will again bring fans live action of all home Linfield lacrosse matches during the 2025 season. Fans can enjoy live video webcasts with play-by-play commentary on their computer, tablet, mobile device or smart TV.

Live coverage begins 10 minutes prior to the start of each contest. Broadcasts include a complete postgame wrap-up with analysis and statistical breakdown.

McMinnville native Joe Stuart, a 2020 Linfield graduate, is the Athletics Broadcast Operations Coordinator, managing all aspects of Linfield’s webcasting outreach and handling lead play-by-play duties on Linfield football, baseball and softball webcasts in addition to basketball. Stuart also assists with other external sports communications and social media needs.

Linfield juniors Johnny Miller and Ethan Kline will share playby-play duties on Linfield lacrosse broadcasts this spring. Miller is a graduate of Jesuit High School in Portland and a member of the Linfield football team. A Salem native, Kline is a first-year member of the LSN team and a graduate of South Salem High School.

All LSN broadcasts, both live and on demand, can be accessed at golinfieldwildcats.com/watch or from within the Linfield Athletics app on mobile, tablet or smart TVs.

OUTLAST OUTLIVE

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LINFIELD DANCE

A Heritage of Confident Service

The Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame, sponsored by Pacific Office Automation, was established in 1998 as an avenue to honor former athletes, coaches, staff and contributors and to preserve the memory of their past achievements.

A new class of inductees is honored at the Hall of Fame Banquet each fall. Inductees are chosen from a list of submitted nominations and voted upon by the Hall of Fame Executive and Selection Committees. The 20-member panel is made up of current and former staff members, past inductees, a member of the media, and a former athlete representing each of the preceding six decades.

Nominations must be submitted in writing using an official nomination form. Hall of Fame nominations are considered in any one of six categories: Athlete, Coach, Team, Athletics Staff, and Meritorious Service.

RECENT HONORS

With five goals and an assist in a win over Puget Sound, Savannah Irwin is honored by the NWC

The Northwest Conference announced Monday that Linfield’s Savannah Irwin was the recipient of the Women’s Lacrosse Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week honor. The recognition marks the first such award of the junior attacker’s career.

The Wildcats played one match last week in which they dominated Puget Sound, 18-3.

Irwin played a large part in the lopsided result as she found the back of the net five times while also logging an assist. On top of her impressive offensive performance, she wreaked havoc on the defensive end as well, causing two turnovers and grabbing four ground balls. The Bend, Ore. native is in her third season as a member of the Linfield women’s lacrosse team. To date, she has recorded 44 goals and 34 assists in 34 career matches.