TACOMA, Wash. – After clinching its fourth-consecutive Northwest Conference title this past weekend, the Pacific Lutheran University women's soccer team travels to McMinnville. Oregon on Saturday, to play its final game of the regular season against Linfield College.
 
Last weekend the Lutes (16-1-2, 14-0-1 NWC) had huge home performances as they defeated George Fox University (4-10-3) on Saturday and Willamette University (9-7-2) on Senior Day on Sunday. The team showed resilience as they won both games in overtime. They took down the Bruins 2-1, with Meghan Michels equalizing for the Lutes in the 87th minute before icing the game in the 100th minute in OT, and then declawing the Bearcats 1-0 with a 106th minute goal by Ellie Johnson. 
 
"I think we all just wanted it so bad, we all knew how hard we had worked and how prepared we were for those games that losing wasn't really an option," said senior Alyssa Carter. "One of our mottos for this season was "All I got!" and it basically means to do everything you do with 100 percent effort and that's exactly what we did."
 
"I think the win against Willamette meant a lot to myself and the other seniors. Every game is a last time for me and for all of our friends and family to be there was really special."
 
The Lutes also clinched their fourth straight Northwest Conference with the wins over the weekend, marking yet another amazing achievement for this talented team.
 
"It feels unreal. I actually wasn't a part of the 2016 team that won for the first time because I was a transfer, but it feels so amazing to have been a part the last three seasons."
 
The Lutes also matched up against University of Puget Sound for their final match at East Field on the season on Wednesday. The team battled hard but could not find the breakthrough, resulting in a 0-0 draw. It does enable the team to remain undefeated in the NWC but ends the historic win-streak by the Lutes at 15 straight games. These memories are just adding to the collection of memories collected by Carter and the other girls on the team over the years at PLU.
 
"My favorite memory so far was our trip to England last summer. That was my first time out of the country, and it was so cool that we got to go there for soccer. Soccer fans are way more intense over there for sure."
 
Carter is also working hard in her senior year outside of athletics and soccer to graduate in the spring.
 
"I am a Biology major with a Psychology minor. After graduating, I plan on taking a gap year to work then apply to grad school to become a dermatology PA."
 
"I have always wanted to do something in the medical field. Originally, I wanted to become a doctor but over the summer I shadowed a dermatology PA and that's ultimately what changed my mind."
 
Outside of athletics and academics, Carter has many hobbies and activities that keep her busy.
 
"Outside of school and soccer I really just like to hang out with friends and watch Redbox or read a book. I get a Redbox movie like once a week. I also like to go on hikes and try out new restaurants."  
 
After playing UPS on Wednesday, the preparation the rest of the week is key for the team to have a good performance this upcoming weekend against Linfield.
 
"I think just by continuing to do the things that we have already been doing. We have a pretty good program during the week that makes sure everyone is getting what they need and that no one is being under or overworked. Also, since we played this Wednesday against UPS, getting some good recovery after will be important in our preparation for this weekend."
 
Carter and the Lutes will play their final game of the regular season this Saturday, Nov. 9th at 11 a.m. against Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. 
 
"I am most excited to just keep playing a little while longer with my teammates. I want to hold on to these moments for as long as possible because I know that once they're over, I'm going to miss them like crazy."
 
Nov. 9: PLU vs. Linfield in McMinnville, Oregon (11 a.m.)
 
Series History: The Lutes and Wildcats have met 71 times since 1981 with PLU holding a 46-22-3 edge in the all-time series. PLU prevailed in the first meeting of the season back on Oct. 12 with Tasha Tennyson scoring the game's lone goal in the eighth minute. 
 
About the Wildcats: Linfield (8-9-1, 7-6-1 NWC) heads into the final weekend of the season having dropped three of its last four matches. The Wildcat woes included a 5-0 setback to University of Puget Sound and a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Lewis & Clark College. Last weekend, Linfield earned a split, downing Whitman College 1-0 and falling 2-1 to Whitworth University.
 
Linfield has been a tough squad to play in McMinnville with the Wildcats owning a 6-3-1 record in home games.
 
Sydney Kuehn leads the Linfield offense in both goals (nine) and points (21). Kristen Burks adds six goals and three assists while Makenna Blix has a team-best five assists.
 
Madi Reimer is the Wildcats' primary goalkeeper, making 51 saves on the season with a 1.38 goals against average.