LTACOMA, Wash. – Hosting the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament for the first time, Pacific Lutheran University was tasked with facing one of the nation's best in No. 2 nationally-ranked Trinity University out of San Antonio, Texas.  After 110 minutes, the Lutes and Tigers officially played to a tie, but the home team will be advancing to the tournament's second round after dominating penalty kicks 4-2. 
 


Both team's made their first two penalty shots, but it was Lute keeper Nicholas Gaston, who stole the show.  Leading 3-2, Gaston stopped back-to-back shots by Fraser Burns and Micheal Somerville  and the Lute fans rushed the field in celebration.  Craig Johnson, Cris Lozano, Cole Dobson and Dane Helle all had successful attempts to lift the Lutes to victory.
 


After a scoreless and even first half, both teams cranked up the intensity.  Michael Meese got the Tigers on the scoreboard in the 51^st minute, but Trevor Thompson answered with a great shot in the lower right corner of the net to knot the score.  The Lutes dominated the second 45 minutes, outshooting the Tigers 14-6.  With just over one minute remaining, Alex White nearly put the Lutes up 2-1, but a great save by Juan Carlos Vidales stopped White's header and the two squads headed for free soccer. 
 
Gaston continued his impressive play in the first overtime, making two of seven saves and he added another in the second OT period. 
 
Individually, it was Thompson, who was PLU's most effective player on the offensive end as he came off the bench and ripped six shot attempts and placed four of them on net.  White added two more shots on goal for PLU and Lozano also had one. 
 
Meese had five shots on goal on the afternoon and six total shots to lead the Tiger attack.  Vidales made five saves, stopping Thompson a couple times 1-on-1 to preserve the tie. 
 
The Lutes advance tomorrow to play the University of Redlands at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow at East Field with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.