NEWBERG, Ore. - Kimber Thomas provided the game's lone goal as the Pacific Lutheran University women's soccer team punched its ticket to the NCAA Division III Tournament on Saturday, downing host George Fox University 1-0 to secure the program's fifth consecutive Northwest Conference crown.
 
"We're super proud of this group. It's never easy to have to play one of the top teams in the conference on a Wednesday night and all the emotion that goes into the UPS game, and then turn around and play the third place team in the conference. George Fox is having an amazing year. It was their senior day and they were motivated and physical," said Head Coach Seth Spidahl.
 
"It was not a great weather day but very proud of how we found a way to get a very gritty win. It wasn't our best performance but we found a way and for this group to finish the regular season with six straight wins after our Whitman setback, I'm super proud of them because the season could have gone a lot of ways. This young group showed lots of character and we're excited to rest up and get recovered and get ready to make the longest run in the NCAA Tournament that we've ever had."
 
Saturday proved to be a milestone day for the Lutes (18-2, 14-2 NWC), setting a school-record for most wins in the NCAA Division III era with 18. That eclipsed the 2017 Lutes that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Lutes also set a program mark by winning it's fifth straight conference title, surpassing the previous streak of four straight set from 2016-2019 and from 1985-1988. 
 
Thomas secured the game-winner in the 51st minute, scoring into the bottom left corner off a pass from Hannah Cecil. It was Thomas' third goal of the year and first game-winner while it was the first helper of the season for Cecil who leads the team in points with 15 on the season.
 
PLU outshot the Bruins (11-6-2, 9-4-2 NWC) 14-6 on the day, including seven of the eight shots in the second half.
 
Shaylin Cesar made three saves for the clean sheet in goal, her third consecutive shutout for the Lutes who head into the postseason riding a six-game win streak. 
 
PLU learns its NCAA Tournament destination and opponent on Monday during the NCAA selection show beginning at 10 a.m. on NCAA.com.
 
"We're really excited about this group. The baby sharks have turned into adult sharks over the course of the season and we're excited to see what's to come for PLU women's soccer."