TACOMA, Wash. – After its first Northwest Conference loss of the season yesterday, the Pacific Lutheran University men's soccer team bounced back in a big way with a 2-1 victory over Whitworth University.
PLU looked to be in trouble on Sunday afternoon at East Field. After leading 1-0 at the half, the Pirates tied the score in the 55
th minute and continued to get good chances against the Lute defense. However,
Ryan Klee was having none of it and provided the Lutes with the game-winner six minutes later on assists by
Ryan Griffith and
Archie Caldwell. It was sophomore's first goal of the season.
Senior keeper
Cole Weaver was kept busy by the Whitworth attack. In his final game at East Field, Weaver made nine saves to earn his 10
th victory of the season.
Sophomore
Keeton Heggerness connected on his fourth penalty kick of the year to give the home team the early advantage. Heggerness was fouled in the box in the 21
st minute and scored his conference-leading 13
thgoal of the year.
Whitman actually outshot PLU by a significant 18-8 margin and held a decisive 10-3 advantage in shots on goal, but the home team was able to escape with the victory and the three points.
Jackson Moore was the only other Lute with a shot on goal in Sunday's win.
The Lutes hit the road for three straight games to end the regular season. Next weekend, PLU will travel to Pacific University on Friday night for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff and head to George Fox University on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
