Written by Student Assistant Christian Bond

SALEM, Ore. – The 18th-ranked Pacific Lutheran University women's soccer team picked up its first road win of the Northwest Conference season, remaining undefeated in conference play with a 1-0 victory over Willamette University on Sunday.

The game winning goal was supplied by Liz Griffith in the 12th minute of the game. Griffith took a direct free kick from 20 yards out, bending the ball into the back of the net. The defense took over from there, keeping the host Bearcats (5-2-1, 2-2 NWC) off the scoreboard for PLU's sixth consecutive shutout.

"Give credit to Machaela Graddy who drew the foul," Head Coach Seth Spidahl said. "Liz has wanted to step up and take those free kicks this year, she certainly is one of our designated shooters. She had great technique with a little run over from Kaylie Rozell and she bent it up and over the wall on the open side of the goal. It was a really good free kick and it was the deciding moment of the game."

PLU (7-1, 4-0 NWC) controlled the pace of the game, doubling the total of shots Willamette got on the day. PLU had 12 shots, with seven coming in the first half. The Lutes also had the advantage in corner kicks, getting five to Willamette's one. The majority of those corner kicks came in the second half when the Lutes had three.

Goalkeeper Natalie Robinson recorded her seventh shutout of the season and has now extended her shutout streak to 574 minutes, a streak stretching across seven games.

"Willamette is a very good team, but our overall team defending and compacting was really good," Spidahl said. "It was a great team effort defensively."

The Lutes travel to the east side of the state next weekend. They play Whitman College on Saturday at noon. On Sunday, it's a game against Whitworth University, also scheduled to start at noon.

"This was a big test for us," Spidahl explained. "It's always hard on the road in Northwest Conference. Generally they are one goal games. I'm very proud of the team, it was a good performance away from home. We have to keep our mentality going for next weekend when we travel to the east side of the state."