TACOMA, Wash. – The Pacific Lutheran University women's soccer team wasted little time in putting today's game against Linfield University out of reach.  The Lutes scored four first half goals and cruised to a 4-0 victory over the Wildcats at East Field. 
 
"It was a good response from last weekend," said PLU Head Coach Seth Spidahl.  "We really emphasized scoring goals this week in training.  We did some finishing each and every day and it certainly paid off.  We had some individual meetings with each of our attackers to get their mindset right."
 
Sophomore Lily Dose scored on the game's first shot.  Ellie Reardon played the ball into the box and Dose headed it over the Wildcat keeper for the first tally.  Less than six minutes later, Vera Panescu-Reich made a nice pass to Dose and the sophomore struck again for her fourth goal of the season. 
 
The third goal of the first half came in the 30^th minute as freshman Julia Causbie picked up a Kayden Hulquist rebound and drilled it into the bottom right corner of the net.  Causbie scored again just 44 seconds later when she picked up a loose ball in the attacking zone and hooked it past a diving Linfield keeper. 
 

Here's Causbie and Dose talking about their performance this afternoon @PLU_WSoc #GoLutes pic.twitter.com/W3eWCFYhI9

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) October 23, 2021

PLU dominated the game with 13 shots to Linfield's three and held a 5-1 advantage on corner kicks.  Calie Rose made the start in goal and made a save to pick up the win.  Shaylin Cesar relieved her in the second half and the duo combined for the Lutes' 10^th shutout of the season. 
 
"Our philosophy today was press, attack and get the ball back," said Spidahl.  "We wanted to get off to a good start, which we did, and we wanted to play a complete game, which I feel like we did.  It was a good first step to the weekend.  I was really proud of how the team stepped up their game today."
 
The Lutes got 28 players game action, including the return of 2019 Northwest Conference Freshman and Offensive Player of the Year Meghan Michels. 
 
The victory, coupled with a tie between George Fox University and University of Puget Sound has the Lutes back in control of their own postseason destiny as they trail the Loggers by just two points in the race for the league title. 
 
PLU will continue the homestand tomorrow at noon when it hosts Lewis & Clark College at East Field.  The Lutes will honor seniors Vivian Shinall, Kimber Thomas, Alyssa Jordan and Rose prior to kickoff.