Official NWC Release

HILLSBORO, Ore. - Pacific Lutheran University defender Ryan Griffith helped the Lutes secure their fourth consecutive Northwest Conference title over the weekend and on Monday was honored by the league office as the NWC Defensive Player of the Week.
 
Griffith earns the award after anchoring a defensive unit that collected two shutout victories at East Field, allowing just two shots on goal the entire weekend. The Puyallup, Washington native played 72 minutes in a 4-0 whitewash of Pacific University on Saturday. Griffith tallied an assist on Alex White's game-winner in the eighth minute before scoring off a corner kick in the 52nd minute.
 
The following day, Griffith played 79 minutes in a 4-0 win over George Fox University, limiting the Bruins to just five total shots and just one on frame. Griffith and the Lutes clinched the league title with the win and have now gone 507 minutes without allowing a goal.
 
Griffith is the third player to win NWC Defensive Player of the Week and the fourth Lute overall to win a weekly award from the conference. Nicholas Gaston was the NWC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 26 and Sept. 27 while White earned the distinction on Oct. 4 and Sept. 20. Cris Lozano is the lone Lute to secure NWC Offensive Player of the Week this fall, netting the accolade on Oct. 26. 
 
The Lutes close out the regular season on Saturday at University of Puget Sound. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m.