TACOMA, Wash. – Ashlee Gormley and
Alyssa Leong each scored as the Pacific Lutheran University women's soccer team held off a late rally Saturday to defeat Pacific University 2-1 in Northwest Conference action at East Field.
The win keeps the national tournament hopes for the Lutes alive as they remain within striking distance of conference-leading University of Puget Sound with three games remaining. PLU (15-2-0 overall, 11-2-0 NWC) has 33 points and UPS has 35. The two teams play Wednesday at 4 p.m. at East Field.
On Saturday, Gormley scored unassisted in the 29
th minute on a golazo from 30-yards out. The ball squirted out to her and she kicked a knuckle ball into the upper corner of the net.
Leong scored her fourth of the season in the 61
st minute after a scramble in the box off a corner kick. The ball squirted out to her near the top of the 18-yard box and she snuck it past the keeper for a 2-0 lead.
That looked as though it would be all the scoring, but the Boxers (6-10-1, 4-9-1) clawed a goal back in the 89
th minute. The Lutes defense then defended a late scoring chance and a corner kick in the final 30 seconds to secure the victory.
Shaylin Cesar earned the win in goal.
The Lutes are back in action at 12 p.m. Sunday against Willamette.
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