TACOMA, Wash. – The Pacific Lutheran University men's soccer team continues to lead the Northwest Conference championship race, despite the 1-0 defeat against University of Puget Sound tonight at East Field.
Trailing 1-0 at the half, the three-time defending league champions fired six second half shots, including four on net, but were unable to come up with the equalizer. PLU put constant pressure on the Logger defense with seven corner kicks in the final 45 minutes and three in the final 10.
Lincoln Schell scored the only goal of the match after connecting on a pass by Cole Haupt in the 35
th minute.
Ryan Griffith came out of nowhere to pick up a team save in the 25
th minute to keep the game scoreless.
Craig Johnson led the Lute attack with five of the team's 11 shots. Johnson and
Robby Guyer both placed shots on net for PLU.
Nicholas Gaston made five saves between the pipes to keep the home team within striking distance.
After the first round of the NWC's double round robin slate the Lutes have a 6-1 record and 18 points, which puts them ahead of second place Willamette University and Whitworth University, who are both 4-2 with 12 points and one game remaining in the initial round. The rival Loggers remain a distant fourth with 11 points and a 3-2-2 conference mark.
The Lutes saw their six-match winning streak snapped with the loss and saw their shutout streak end after six straight clean sheets. The 2021 team tied the school record set in 1987 with six consecutive shutouts.
PLU has the rest of the weekend off before hosting a huge matchup on Saturday, October 16 against Willamette University at 2:30 p.m.
