PORTLAND – Pacific Lutheran's third consecutive double-overtime contest ended in celebration as Kaylie Rozell scored the Golden Goal game-winner in the 105th minute of play Saturday to give the Lutes a 1-0 women's soccer win over Lewis & Clark at Griswold Stadium.
Pacific Lutheran improves to 3-2-2 overall and 1-0-2 in Northwest Conference play after handing the Pioneers their first conference loss of the season. Lewis & Clark falls to 5-2-1 overall and 2-1-1 in the NWC. The Lutes return to action Sunday, taking on George Fox in Newberg at 12 p.m.
"I was really proud of our team," PLU head coach Seth Spidahl said. "It was really windy and rainy – tough conditions to play in. It was probably our best game of the year to date, just a really complete performance all around.
Rozell's fourth goal of the season was also her second in two matches after she scored the Lutes' lone goal in last week's 1-1 road draw against Pacific. She took a pass from Kristi D'Alessandro on the right side and sent it into the top left corner of the net from 15 yards out.
"Kaylie had a really good goal on a play that she both started and finished off," Spidahl said. "We've been working on that sort of pattern in training, and it's really great to see it come out on the game field during a match."
Lewis & Clark out-shot the Lutes 20-to-10 during regulation, but PLU put the pressure on in the two overtime periods, ruling possession with a shot advantage of 7-0. Marisa Gonzalez claimed the shutout for PLU, playing the entire 104:59 in goal while making six saves. Geena Fong went the distance at goalkeeper for the Pioneers, yielding Rozell's goal while making six saves.
The win gives PLU three consecutive strong results to open the conference season, after they claimed consecutive 1-1 draws against No. 13 Puget Sound and a strong Pacific team. The Lutes will look to continue that streak Sunday against the Bruins.
"Lewis & Clark is a tough team with two dangerous forwards that we had to deal with all game, but we stayed disciplined, worked hard and competed well and found a way to get a goal in overtime," Spidahl said.
