FOREST GROVE, Ore. – It took overtime, but Kaylie Rozell's Golden Goal helped the Pacific Lutheran women's soccer team move one step closer to a potential Northwest Conference championship as the Lutes defeated Pacific 2-1 Saturday at Hanson Stadium.
With the win, Pacific Lutheran improved to 14-3-1 overall this season and 12-2 in conference play. The Lutes have 36 points in the NWC standings, along with a six-point lead over Linfield and Puget Sound (both 10-3), who play each other Sunday in McMinnville. PLU's 12 conference wins extend its own program record, and with two matches remaining in the 2014 regular season the Lutes are going for their first conference title since 1992.
"Today was a different challenge, responding to a big win," PLU head coach Seth Spidahl said. "Pacific is a tough place to play. Morgan and Dane always motivate their team, and today was no different. We didn't play great overall in the first half, but we battled hard and played much better in the second half and scored a very good goal in overtime to win it."
Coming off one of the biggest wins for the program in the last two decades – Wednesday's 3-1 win over 12-time defending conference champion Puget Sound – the Lutes saw Pacific take a 1-0 lead into halftime when Krisa Duff headed the ball into the net in the 40th minute off a pass from Chandler Bowen.
PLU responded late in the match, tying it up in the 79th minute on Lauren Larson's eighth goal of the season. Larson knocked it in from close range following a corner kick by Blake Warner as PLU out-shot Pacific 8-2 in the second period.
Rozell scored to give the Lutes the road win in the 96th minute of play, taking a cross from Kelsey Hathaway on the left wing 10-yard line and sending it past Pacific goalkeeper Megan Green for the Golden Goal. Green finished the day with five saves and the two goals allowed, while Takara Mitsui returned from injury to earn the win for the Lutes with one save and one goal allowed.
The Lutes wrap up the 2014 regular season next weekend down in Oregon, as they are set to take on Willamette Nov. 7 and Linfield Nov. 8.
