PARKLAND – Machaela Graddy found the net for the second time following a rebounded shot in the final minute of regulation to give Pacific Lutheran a 2-1 Northwest Conference women's soccer victory over Whitman on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

Pacific Lutheran tied its 2014 win total with the victory, improving to 14-2-1 overall and 10-2-1 in conference play while completing the season sweep of Whitman. The Missionaries fell to 2-10-6 overall and 2-6-6 in the NWC. The Lutes wrap up their home schedule Sunday, when they host Whitworth in a Senior Day matchup with kickoff set for 12 p.m.

"Today's match was a challenge for our group," PLU head coach Seth Spidahl. "Whitman is a team that is playing well right now, and that showed today in their play. And the conditions and weather were something we haven't had to deal with all year."

Consistent rainfall affected the match throughout, and the two teams went into the halftime break tied 0-0 after Whitman out-shot PLU 6-3 in the opening period. The Lutes got on the board early in the second half when Megan Zimmerman passed the ball down the middle of the field to Graddy, who sent it past Whitman goalkeeper Haley Case in the 54th minute of play. That lead did not last, however, as Whitman responded only 21 seconds later with a header from close range by Lena de Guzman off an assist by Clara Merlino.

That score held up for the next 35 minutes, and the game seemed destined for overtime until Graddy stepped up again to score the game-winner with 37 seconds remaining on the clock, this time following a rebounded shot by teammate Emily Hanna. Graddy's two goals snapped a four-match scoreless streak for the sophomore forward and moved her back into a tie atop the NWC scoring leaderboard.

Takara Mitsui made five saves for the Lutes and Graddy finished the day with seven of PLU's 11 shots on the day. Case totaled four saves, while de Guzman led Whitman with four shots. The win maintains PLU's position atop the NWC leaderboard, tied with cross-town rival Puget Sound with 31 points going into the final three matches of the regular season.

"Credit to the players: they showed great character today all the way to the end," Spidahl said. "Mac was fantastic up front for us, Kelly White was strong in the back and Takara made a couple of magnificent saves. I'm proud of the team in the way they kept their focus and energy at home."