WELCOME TO LINFIELD UNIVERSITY
EVENT
Casey Powell
COMMUNICATIONS
Conner Jensen, Kelly Bird
STATISTICS
Sydney Pfleiger, McKenzie Heckman
PENALTY MONITOR
Mia Arellano PUBLIC
Emerson Teller
PLAY
Julia Alvarez
VIDEO WEBCASTS
Johnny Miller, Ethan Kline, Joe Stuart, Joel Nelson
GAME
Kelly Bird, Conner Jensen, Felipe Unker
SEASON OUTLOOK
ready for a breakthrough
With a roster that retains key players from last year, the ’Cats stand poised to make substantial progress in 2025
by conner jensen
After finishing the 2024 season with a 6-9 overall record and a 4-8 conference record, the Linfield Wildcats are determined to make strides this spring in the new-look Northwest Conference. With Lewis & Clark and Pacific Lutheran becoming full conference members this season, the NWC now has nine participating teams for the first time in its history. With a roster that retains several key players from last year, the Wildcats are poised to make noise throughout the 2025 season.
KEY RETURNERS
The Wildcats return a core group of players who were instrumental in the team’s performance last season. Leading the charge is Gabby Crist, a junior midfielder and an AllNWC second team selection who was the team’s top scorer in 2024. Crist tallied 47 goals and 19 assists, finishing the season with 66 points. Her ability to control the midfield and contribute on both ends of the field will be crucial for Linfield’s success this year. Crist also led the team in ground balls (42) and draw controls (33), showcasing her versatility and importance to the team.
Another key returner is Savannah Irwin, a junior who finished the 2024 season with 21 goals and 19 assists. Irwin’s playmaking ability and knack for finding the back of the net make her a vital part of Linfield’s offensive attack.
On the defensive end, Mackenzie Kulick returns for her senior season after a strong 2024 campaign where she was selected to the All-NWC second team. Kulick, a defender, scored 34 goals and added one assist, but her real impact was felt on the defensive side of the ball. Her leadership and defensive prowess will be critical as Linfield looks to improve on last year’s performance.
Madison De La Trinidad returns after being selected to the All-NWC first team in 2024 as a defender. The sophomore led the entire conference in ground balls per game with 3.19 and her development in crucial to Linfield’s success.
Maya Wright, a senior midfielder/attacker, returns looking to leave her mark. Wright scored 18 goals and added 16 assists a season ago. She was also a key contributor in the draw circle, securing 38 draw controls, the second-highest on the team. Wright’s experience and ability to contribute in multiple facets of the game will be invaluable for the Wildcats.
In goal, Tenley Hodge returns for her junior season while Caity Babcock comes back for her senior season. Hodge started all 15 games last year, recording 131 saves and a .381 save percentage. Babcock sat out the 2024 season due to injury but looks to make a significant impact in her final campaign.
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH
The Wildcats welcome two newcomers who could make
an immediate impact. Evelyn Cross, a freshman attacker from San Diego, California, joins the team after a standout high school career at Monte Vista. Cross’s offensive skills and ability to finish around the net could provide a boost to Linfield’s attack.
Another freshman to watch is Emma Baker, a defender from San Diego, California. Baker’s defensive instincts and athleticism could help shore up Linfield’s backline, which will be crucial as the team looks to improve its defensive numbers from last season.
A MIX OF CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
NWC play heats up in April, with the first counting game in the standings coming against Pacific on April 2.
Linfield’s first-ever conference match against Pacific Lutheran comes on the road on April 6 while the first NWC counter against Lewis & Clark is on April 16.
The regular season concludes with a home contest against George Fox on April 26 and a road game against Willamette on April 27. These final games could have major implications for the NWC Tournament, which begins on May 3.
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
While the Wildcats showed flashes of brilliance last season, there are areas where they will need to improve in order to compete for a conference title. According to fourthyear coach Sarah Dalsey, some of the areas for improvement are the Wildcats’ transition game and consistency.
“I think we’d like to see more consistency,” said Dalsey. “A place that we have been working a lot on is our transition, just having a little bit more composure and making smarter decisions under pressure.”
A PROMISING SEASON UNFOLDING
The 2025 season holds plenty of promise. With a strong core of returning players and some exciting newcomers, the Wildcats have the talent to compete in the NWC. The schedule provides both challenges and opportunities, and if the team can draw upon last season’s experience and pair it with improvements made over the offseason, the Wildcats should enjoy even more success this year.
25 mackenzie kulick
LINFIELD LACROSSE COMPLEX
THE DREAM OF A MODERN lacrosse 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
PUGET SOUND LOGGERS
LINFIELD VERSUS PUGET SOUND
match breakdown
THE RECORDS
After a long break between matches, Linfield (2-2) is hungry to get back on the field and into the swing of competition. In their last outing, the Wildcats fell to Lewis & Clark in Portland in a hard-fought battle that went down to the wire. This weekend, they face a Puget Sound (1-1) is also coming off a loss to Lewis & Clark where its offense struggled to find a rhythm, putting up just four goals. The Loggers have a match with Pacific Lutheran on Saturday before coming to McMinnville on Sunday.
LINFIELD AT A GLANCE
The Wildcats have seen improvements after each game this season as they prepare for a fast-approaching NWC slate. Savannah Irwin has proved dominant on the offensive side of the field, netting nine goals on the young season to go along with 10 assists and 11 ground balls. Mackenzie Kulick has shown her own ability to take a match over with 12 goals to open her senior season and Madison De La Trinidad contributes an additional nine. Tenley Hodge has held down the goalkeeper position through four games, garnering 19 saves and recording a 2-2 record.
PUGET SOUND AT A GLANCE
The Loggers are averaging 9.5 goals per contest and taking 22 shots per game to open the 2025 campaign. They look to rev up the offense behind Maggie Ott and Cat Schilli who each have six goals. Senior Michaela Chen leads the team in shots with 15 but aims to bump up her shot on goal percentage from .667. Phoebe Crowther stands tall in the goal, starting and finishing both games as Puget Sound’s goalkeeper. She has racked up 18 saves for an impressive .429 save percentage.
SERIES HISTORY
Linfield trails Puget Sound 28-17 in the all-time series, but has won the previous two meetings. The Loggers have won 14 of 22 contests played in McMinnville.
5 evelyn cross
6 savannah irwin
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
Tyler McNeley is NWC Pitcher of the Week while Cydney Hess is named NWC Hitter of the Week
The Northwest Conference announced Monday that Linfield pitcher Tyler McNeley and shortstop Cydney Hess were named the Softball Student-Athletes of the Week.
McNeley opened her second season pitching in four of Linfield’s first six games at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Georgia, against some of the top teams in the country. Over 21 innings pitched, the Lakeview High School product faced 94 batters and struck out 31 of them while notching a 3-1 record to start the year. She is majoring in exercise science and appears poised to propel Linfield to another historic season.
Hess led Linfield’s offense to five wins at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. In the season opener against 10th-ranked Trine, the junior shortstop blasted three home runs and collected six RBIs as the Wildcats defeated the Thunder 14-7. Throughout the weekend, Hess totaled nine hits, 12 RBIs and four home runs as Linfield put together an impressive performance in the season-opening tournament. On top of hitting home runs for the Wildcats, she is majoring in accounting at Linfield and serves as a football team manager during the fall season.
Utti
tyler mcneley
CYDNEY HESS
PROUD PARTNER OF LINFIELD ATHLETICS
