PARKLAND - Sara Tallman scored her first goal of the season in the 26th minute and that one tally was all that visiting Whitworth needed to take a 1-0 Northwest Conference women's soccer victory over Pacific Lutheran on Sunday afternoon.

After a shot by Whitworth's Lindsey Oakes was blocked, the ball rolled to Tallman, and her 20-yard shot to the left side of the goal beat PLU keeper Lauren Chambard.

The Pirates (7-2-0 overall, 4-1-0 NWC) controlled most of the play against the Lutes (2-6-0, 1-3-0), earning an 18-7 advantage in shots and a 5-1 margin in corner kicks. Sarah Berentson peppered the PLU goal early in the match and finished with four shots while Oakes spurred the second half offense and finished with five shots, including three on goal. Chambard was strong in the Lutes' goal with seven saves, while Whitworth keeper Krista Dietz came up with two saves to earn her third shutout of the season.

Olivia Lee, PLU's leading scorer this year, created problems for Whitworth in the first half with runs down the left wing. She had the Lutes' best chance about 22 minutes into the match but Dietz smothered her near-post drive.

Pacific Lutheran returns to action at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday when it hosts unbeaten and nationally ranked Puget Sound in a Northwest Conference match.

- PLU -