TACOMA, Wash. –
Craig Johnson was a man determined Friday.
The Pacific Lutheran junior was less than happy that his team lost to crosstown rival Puget Sound twice a year ago.
He wasn't going to let it happen again.
Johnson recorded his first collegiate hat trick and the Lutes dismantled the Loggers 4-0 in Northwest Conference action at East Field.
"He had a good intention about him tonight," coach
John Yorke said about Johnson. "I could see it in warmup. He had his game face on for sure."
It took less than 10 minutes for Johnson to make sure everyone on the field knew what was coming on this night.
He scored in the 10
th, 26
th and 84
th minutes, recording his first goals after a three-game drought.
"Last year we dropped two to them and we kept that with us," Johnson said. "We saw how they celebrated on our field and we knew we had to come back and right our wrongs from last year and just build off of how we've been playing."
The Loggers came out in a defensive shell, looking to play off the counter.
Johnson and the rest of his teammates dismissed that idea from the outset.
Senior
Ryan Griffith found Johnson's left foot just 9 minutes, 21 seconds into the game for a quick 1-0 lead.
In the 26
th minute,
Cris Lozano sent a cross in and Johnson controlled from the top of the 18 box and hammered home a shot that the UPS keeper had no chance against.
Less than 10 minutes later,
Keeton Heggerness scored his first goal of the season on a pass from
Trevor Thompson and the rout was on.
"It was fun to see our guys engaged and ready to play tonight," Yorke said. "I thought they were sharp and electric. They came to win tonight. They came to win."
Johnson scored his final goal on an assist by
James Del Carmen in the 84
th minute, slotting home a shot in traffic.
While Johnson was performing his offensive heroics, the team defense was stellar throughout – rarely allowing the Loggers (6-3-4, 2-3-2) any room to operate on the offensive side of the ball.
"We were playing intense," PLU goalie
Nicholas Gaston said. "We were playing with a will to win and vocal organization from everyone on the back line was crucial to today's victory."
PLU out-shot UPS 15-6, including 6-2 on goal. Gaston made the two saves to earn the victory.
"This was one of the best games the team has played," Johnson said. "Just how we moved the ball and defended as a unit. The ball was just moving really well and I got into some good positions. And yeah, it was good to get back on the score sheet."
The Lutes are back in action at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at East Field, hosting Lewis & Clark.
