FOREST GROVE, Ore. — Striking twice in the opening five minutes was more than enough offense for the Pacific Lutheran University women's soccer team on Friday night, blanking host Pacific University 3-0 in a Northwest Conference tilt at Hanson Stadium. 
 
Hannah Cecil opened the scoring just over four minutes into the game, netting her seventh goal of the season off an assist from Julia Causbie. 13 seconds later the Lutes were at it again with Alyssa Leong scoring her fifth goal of the 2022 campaign on a Meghan Michels assist, pushing the Lute advantage to 2-0.
 
Ashlee Gormley tacked on an insurance score in the 76th minute, finding the back of the net off a feed from Cecil as the Lutes cruised to the 3-0 victory.
 
"We've been really emphasizing getting off to better starts for the second half of Northwest Conference play, so we make it a focal point of our pregame. It's awesome to see us score and add a second within five minutes. Alyssa and Hannah both got off, bam-bam, with two goals so it was a good way to get going," said Head Coach Seth Spidahl. 
 
"We even started fast in the second half with Meghan Michels hitting the crossbar so proud of our starts and Pacific is never an easy place to play. Friday night is a different rhythm and the team showed discipline and maturity."
 
PLU (10-1-2, 7-1-1 NWC) outshot the host Boxers (5-5-3, 2-5-3 NWC) 13-7 on the night, enjoying a 5-3 edge in shots on frame.
 
Abby Winkler made three saves in net to collect her first collegiate shutout. Her counterpart, Kylie Pascual, made two saves while conceding three goals.
 
The Lutes close out the weekend on Sunday with a noon showdown in McMinnville against Linfield University.