TACOMA, Wash. – It's not often the Pacific Lutheran women's soccer team gets to show off its depth.
Having an experienced team means those players get a lot of minutes.
On Sunday, though, the Lutes featured 22 players, had a goalkeeper get her first career victory and three other players score their first goals of the season, as they hammered Lewis & Clark 5-1 in Northwest Conference action at East Field.
"It is really good for the team environment," said
Cassie Stady, who scored her first collegiate goal in the first half. "Everyone is supporting everyone. It is really exciting to see more people step on the field and get some time."
Abby Winkler got the start in goal, finding out in warmups that she was getting the start. The Pioneers (3-5-3 overall, 3-3-2 NWC) opened the scoring in the sixth minute as Celeste Schreifels scored against the run of play on an assist from Abby Hayes.
It was the second consecutive game the Lutes gave up an early goal only to rally for a result.
Hannah Cecil tied the game in the 14
th minute on a pass from
Lily Dose, while
Keila Kruse scored her first of the year in the 21
st minute on a pass from
Julia Causbie.
"We have a very deep team and it is very difficult to play in this program because we have a lot of good players," PLU coach
Seth Spidahl said. "It's fun to see people go on and get their chance and do well. At the end of the day, the seniors are going to graduate and players are going to move and we still want to be good.
"So, when they go out and improve and change the game like that, it is awesome to see."
Stady scored her goal in the 28
th minute off another assist by Causbie.
"I saw the line step up and so I kind of stepped up with the line and Julia crossed it and I was just there where the ball landed," Stady said. "It was really shocking and thrilling. It was really exciting."
The Lutes (9-1-2, 6-1-1) continued to pour it on in the second half as
Lily Dose scored her second of the season in the 69
th minute on an assist from
Jami Hughes, while
Katelyn McDougal scored her first collegiate goal in the 89
th minute on a pass from
Olivia Boehm.
"I was honestly really surprised it went in," McDougal said. "I haven't scored in a long time."
Winkler made four saves to earn the victory, while the Lutes outshot the Pioneers 14-9 including 9-5 on goal.
"Abby is one of my good friends, so it was really fun to see her in goal and to have confidence in herself," McDougal said. "I was really happy for her and everyone else who came in It was fun to see everyone support them."
The Lutes are back in action at 6 p.m. Friday at Pacific University.
