TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University women's soccer team began its weekend at home with a 1-0 win against Northwest Conference rival George Fox University on Saturday at East Field. The Lutes have a 7-2-1 record so far in this NWC season.

The Lutes (9-3-3, 8-2-1 NWC) started out the first half with even play against the Bruins (3-8-2, 1-8-2 NWC). Sophomore Ellie Johnson found the Lutes' first and ultimately only goal of the day, scoring in the fifth minute off a feed from Leah Magee. It was her team-leading seventh goal of the year.Despite the goal, the first half showed even play with three shots for George Fox and three shots for PLU.

The second half started well for the Lutes with the team maintaining a majority of the possession. Neither team was able to score in the competitive second half and the game ended 1-0 for the Lutes. The Lutes outshot the Bruins 8-5.

"Today's game was one of those games where everything might not be clicking but you still have to find a way to grind out the win. Tomorrow is going to be a tougher match because Linfield has some athletic attackers who will look to press our back line. If we use the game today to fuel our performance tomorrow I think we'll have a better outcome," said senior Rachel Ross.

Head Coach Seth Spidahl had similar sentiments.

"It wasn't our best performance but over the course of a 20-game journey you are going to have some tough performances and figure out how to grind out the win."

This win for the Lutes brought them back to second place in the NWC standings. They are returning to East Field tomorrow for their second conference game of the weekend facing the Linfield College at 12 p.m.