TACOMA, Wash. – The Pacific Lutheran University women's soccer team completed the first weekend of Northwest Conference in dominant fashion on Sunday.  After a 4-0 blanking of Whitworth University, the Lutes crushed the Blues of Whitman College 2-0 at East Field.  
 
"Yesterday was a big win," said PLU Head Coach Seth Spidahl.  "It was a really big win and how do you respond after a big win?  As much as we talk about responding after a loss, we also have to respond after a big win, and lots of teams come out with a little bit of a hangover.  I don't think it was our best in the first half, but I think we did a better job in the second half.  It's still not where we want to be, but it's a great lesson to learn early on and we still got a win and a shutout."
 
Despite dominating the ball for the entire first half, the Lutes were held off the scoreboard until there were just 51 seconds remaining in the first 45 minutes.  Danielle Lisk had a beautiful cross to Ashlee Gormley, who easily put the ball past the Whitman keeper for the game's first goal.  
 
The Lutes and the constant rain didn't let up in the second half.  Meghan Michels scored her third goal of the weekend in the 71^stminute on assists by Leah Magee and Jami Hughes as PLU coasted to victory.  
 
Because of terrific defense and heavy possession by the PLU offense, the Blues didn't register their first shot until there were just eight minutes remaining in the contest.  Goalkeeper Ashton Huppert had to make just one save on the afternoon to earn the shutout.  
 
The Lutes dominated the shot total 16-2 and placed seven shots on the net.  PLU also held a significant 10-1 edge in corner kicks.  
 
PLU (4-1-1, 2-0-0) looks to keep its perfect NWC record intact next weekend when it heads to Oregon to take on Lewis & Clark College on Saturday and Pacific University on Sunday.