MCMINNVILLE, Ore. –With the Northwest Conference title already locked up and a trip to the NCAA Tournament booked, the Pacific Lutheran women's soccer team used Saturday's game as a final tune-up for next weekend's postseason appearance.  The Lutes played 28 players, gave some starters some much-needed rest and got some young players some extended playing time.  PLU lost to Linfield College 2-1 to snap its unbeaten streak at 16 matches. 
 
"Today was a great day for the program," said Head Coach Seth Spidahl.  "It was really a win for the program, maybe not on the score column, but we played 28 players today.  We rested some other starters, and we gave our normal group of players a good chunk of time to keep them in their rhythm.  The super positive thing was that we got to play some freshmen and some other players who have been training all year to get them experience for next year, which I'm really excited about because you want to keep being great."
 
The Lutes (16-2-2) got on the scoreboard early as Ellie Johnson scored her fourth goal of the season just eight minutes into the game.  Johnson dribbled to the middle of the box and fired a strike past the Wildcat keeper.  Linfield tied the game in the 30^th minute when Taylor Cole ripped a shot over Cassidy Crosswhite. 
 
PLU controlled things in the first half with a 7-4 edge in shots and 4-2 advantage in corner kicks, however the tables were turned in the second.  The Wildcats fired eight shots to just two for the visitors in the second half.  The home team scored a game winner in the 62^nd minute, and PLU was unable to rally. 
 
Leah Magee led the Lutes with four shots on the day and was the only player with more than one shot on the day. 
 
PLU will learn its fate in the NCAA Tournament during the selection show on ncaa.com at 10:00 a.m. Monday morning.