Box Score Contact: Mark Albanese, Director of Sports Communication
FOREST GROVE, Ore. - Two goals in an eight minute stretch proved to be more than enough firepower for the 17th-ranked Pacific Lutheran University women's soccer team on Saturday, dispatching Northwest Conference rival Pacific University 2-0 inside Hanson Stadium.
Hailey Smoot got things rolling for the Lutes (7-0-2, 4-0-1 NWC), finding the back of the net in the 14th minute for her first goal of the 2016 campaign. Liz Griffith doubled visiting PLU's advantage with a goal in the 22nd minute, scoring off a feed from Kelsey Hathaway in what proved to be the final goal of the afternoon.
"We're very happy with the win today. Pacific is not an easy environment to come down and win at," said Head Coach Seth Spidahl.
PLU finished the game with a 16-6 edge in shots taken, including five of the six landing on frame.
Thanks to a stiff defensive effort, Takara Mitsui needed to make just one save to collect the clean sheet, logging all 90 minutes in goal. The Boxers' (5-4-1, 3-3 NWC) Kailey Hifumi made five stops and yield two goals in the losing effort.
"We're always on guard. We're aware this was going to be a difficult game. Very comfortable in the win, certainly scoring two goals in the first 20 minutes gets you off on the right foot. Great to see Hailey score her first goal on a set play and get another goal in the run of the play."
"Still could have probably played better to get the third goal to put in the bag but Kelly White was fantastic today in the back. Rachel Ross was outstanding in the midfield too. Probably the two standouts of the game."
The win coupled with a scoreless draw by Willamette University and University of Puget Sound catapults the Lutes in a tie atop the NWC standings with crosstown nemesis UPS. The Lutes are back on the pitch on Sunday, facing Willamette with kickoff slated for 12 p.m.
