NEWBERG, Ore. – The Pacific Lutheran women's soccer team put four goals on the board for the first time this season as the Lutes shut out George Fox 4-0 on a dreary Sunday afternoon at Austin Sports Complex.
The box score weather description lists "rain, rain, and more rain," but for the Lutes it may as well have been raining goals as PLU's scoring output tied one match from last year as the most the Lutes have scored in a game since 2009. Coming off Saturday's 1-0 double-overtime win, the Lutes have now won consecutive road contests for the first time since 2006.
"I was really proud of our team – to score four goals in any game is a good accomplishment in any game," PLU head coach Seth Spidahl said. "Our offense found some rhythm, and saying that you want to go out and do it and then doing it are two different things, so I was happy that we were able to execute and finish off some of the attacking moves we created and score four goals."
With the wins, PLU improved its record to 4-2-2 overall and 2-0-2 in Northwest Conference play. George Fox fell to 2-5-1 overall and 0-3-1 in the NWC. The Lutes return home next weekend for conference matchups against Whitman and Whitworth, with game time set for 12 p.m. each day.
Blake Warner scored the first two goals of the match for PLU. She headed a cross from Jamie Hoffman into the right side of the goal in the 41st minute of play to put the Lutes on the board, and then she came right back out less than five minutes into the second half and took an unassisted shot from the top of the box over George Fox keeper Alyssa Montero and into the right corner of the net.
"Blake was very good for us today," Spidahl said. "She had a really good first goal that put a stamp on all the pressure we were going for in the first half."
Lauren Larson made it 3-0 PLU just a few minutes after Warner's second goal, earning a penalty kick score in the 52nd minute of play. She then came through with the assist on the Lutes' fourth goal of the game, passing to Kaylie Rozell in the 64th minute for the score.
The Lutes out-shot George Fox 22-to-8 in the match and finished with a 6-0 corner kick advantage. Marisa Gonzalez and Takara Mitsui split time in goal for PLU, with each tallying four saves in the win.
