TACOMA, Wash. – Meghan Michels hadn't scored in a regular-season game in so long that when her right-footed shot hit the back of the net Wednesday, it almost didn't seem real.
But it was and it was magnificent.
Michels scored off a free kick rebound to help lead the Pacific Lutheran (13-1-2 overall, 10-1-1 NWC) women's soccer team to a 1-0 Northwest Conference victory at arch rival Puget Sound to put the Lutes in first place in the standings all alone.
"It felt amazing," Michels said. "It was kind of a surreal moment, but the best way to celebrate is with your teammates. We got in the middle of the field and cheered with each other. It took a second to sink in. It was just amazing."
Michels won Northwest Conference freshman of the year, offensive player of the year and was first team all-NWC in 2019, there was no 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic and then she missed last season with a knee injury. In 2019 she scored 12 goals with her final one coming in the NCAA tournament against Trinity (Texas) on Nov. 16.
She's played in every game this year, but no goals had come until the lights were the brightest Wednesday.
"It just shows that all the hard work that I have put into recovery paid off," she said. "To have it in a game like today just meant even more to me. I couldn't have done it without my teammates."
Ellie Reardon uncorked a ball on a free kick in the 50th minute and Keila Kruse was able to knock the ball down. It eventually popped out to Michels who hammered it home.
"I'm proud of the team. They showed real toughness and real discipline," PLU coach Seth Spidahl said. "We were very good in the air and very good defending on corners."
Shaylin Cesar returned after missing the last three games with injury to earn the shutout victory.
The game was a bit of a reverse from the first time the two played. In that one, the Loggers won 1-0 at East Field and weathered a Lutes second-half onslaught of possession and shots.
This time around, it was the Loggers (12-3-1, 9-2-1) pouring the pressure on and the Lutes defense that stood up and got the job done.
The win gives the Lutes first place in the Northwest Conference, but with four games remaining and just three points separating the two schools there is still plenty more to play for.
"We have to keep our heads about us," Spidahl said. "There is still soccer to play. It is a big win and an enjoyable one, but we have four games left and tons of work to do."
And that starts with a game against Whitman at 12 p.m. Saturday at East Field.
