NEWBERG, Ore. – A dominant opening 20 minutes of lacrosse helped put Pacific just out of reach of the George Fox Bruins on Wednesday as Pacific clinched at-least a share of the conference title with a 12-8 road victory.
 
Pacific can clinch the Northwest Conference title outright on Sunday when the Boxers host Linfield at Hanson Stadium.
 
The reigning-NWC Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week, Paisley Hiefield (Portland, Ore.) scored the first goal of the evening 40 seconds into the game, but roughly five minutes later the Bruins knotted the game at 1-1.
 
After seeing the Bruins tie the game, Pacific co-captain Amy Mayhugh (Sr., Tigard, Ore.) exploded for three-straight goals, with the third off an assist from Abby Talboy (Jr., Boise, Idaho).
 
Mayhugh's second goal, gave Pacific's all-time leader in goals, 150 on her career.
 
George Fox responded to Pacific's 5-1 lead with a Miranda Edwords goal with 14:09 left in the first period, but Hiefield started the Boxers on a four-goal run less than a minute later.
 
Hiefield's goal was followed by tallies from Mayhugh, April Lanz (So., Oregon City, Ore.) and Kara Smouse (Jr., Portland, Ore.) Lanz assisted on Hiefield's goal that started off Pacific's run, while Nicki Leeming (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev.) picked up the assist on Lanz's first goal of the night.
 
The final six minutes of the opening period saw George Fox rattled off three unassisted goals to take the game to halftime with Pacific up 9-5.
 
Due to a George Fox yellow card with one-second remaining in the first half, the Boxers opened the second period with a man-advantage and took control of the opportunity as Mayhugh scored the eventual-game winner with 28:20 left in regulation off an assist from Meg Chapman (Jr., Woodinville, Wash.)
 
Mayhugh struck for a sixth goal, eight minutes later to put Pacific up 10-5.
 
Chapman earned a second assist with 19:09 left as she helped out on Lanz's second goal of the evening. Mayhugh netted Pacific's final goal on a free position chance with 18:48 left on the clock.
 
Edwords set George Fox off on a 3-0 run to wrap-up the final 15 minutes of action as time expired on the Bruins' comeback try with Pacific earning a 12-8 victory.
 
Mayhugh finished with seven goals, while Lanz and Mayhugh both netted two goals. Smouse netted one goal on the evening for the Boxers.
 
Talboy, Leeming and Lanz all finished with one assist, while Chapman dished out two at the Austin Sports Complex.
 
Mayhugh controlled a game-high seven draws, as Talboy led Pacific in ground balls with three.
 
Pacific goalkeeper Adrienne Salzwedel (So., Beaverton, Ore.) posted eight saves on the night, with half of her stops coming on George Fox free position shots.
 
The Boxers will look to clinch sole possession of the inaugural NWC women's lacrosse title on Sunday when Pacific hosts Linfield with first draw set for 3 p.m. at Hanson Stadium.