Official NWC Release

HILLSBORO, Ore. - For the second time this fall, Pacific Lutheran University women's soccer student-athlete Kimber Thomas is the Northwest Conference Defensive Player of the Week, securing the honor after helping the Lutes to a pair of shutout wins to clinch the program's fifth straight league title.

The Snohomish, Washington native played a key role in a pair of shutouts to secure the league crown. Thomas helped the Lutes unseat the University of Puget Sound 1-0 on Wednesday, knocking the Loggers out of the top spot in the conference standings before icing the title on Saturday with a 1-0 win over third-place George Fox University. Thomas sealed the title for the Lutes at George Fox, scoring the game's lone goal in the 51st minute.

Thomas and the defense allowed just five shots on goal last weekend. The Lutes, winners of six straight, have now gone 271 minutes without allowing a goal.

Anchored a defense that collected a pair of shutouts over the weekend against the 2nd place and 3rd place teams in conference to secure the program's unprecedented 5th straight league title. Thomas sealed the title for the Lutes, scoring the game-winner in the 51st minute on Saturday against GFU in a 1-0 win. Thomas and the Lute D allowed just five shots on goal during the week and have gone 271 minutes without allowing a goal.

This is Thomas's second NWC honor, previously securing the accolade on Oct. 4.

The Lutes open up the NCAA Division III Tournament on Saturday in San Antonio, Texas, facing Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champion Pomona-Pitzer Colleges.