TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University men's soccer team lost the battle but won the war on Saturday afternoon, dropping a 1-0 decision to University of Puget Sound but captured the Northwest Conference title after Linfield College upset Willamette University 2-1 in McMinnville, Oregon.

The Lutes (13-5-2, 9-3-2 NWC)  headed into Saturday with a tenuous two-point lead in the NWC standings and in the driver's seat to secure a second straight NWC crown. The pesky Loggers (9-5-4, 7-3-4 NWC) made the road a bit rockier, with Luke Murdock scoring the game's lone goal in the 17th minute to put PLU's fate in the hands of Linfield College. The homestanding Wildcats held up their end, scoring two second half goals and staving off a late challenge to sink Willamette and hand the title and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament to Pacific Lutheran.

"Even though we didn't get the result today the conference was won because we did what we needed to do over the course of the season to be in the position to win the NWC," said Head Coach John Yorke. "In the little details of a 20-game season we did enough to survive a bad result in the last game. The conference wasn't won or lost today, it was won over the course of the year and even over the course of four years when you talk about our seniors and what they have committed to this program."

PLU goalkeeper RJ Noll made five saves on the day while his counterpart, Wren Norwood, turned away three to claim the clean sheet.

"Really happy and proud of this team and what they've accomplished. I'm especially happy for the seniors and their opportunity to go play in the postseason."

The Lutes will learn their first round opponent and location on Monday at 10 a.m. when the NCAA announces the tournament field.