TACOMA, WASH. --- The Pacific Lutheran Men's Soccer team earned their sixth Northwest Conference title in the past seven years with a 5-0 win over Lewis & Clark on Sunday.
 
With a conference title on their mind, and just the struggling Pioneers in their way, the Lutes made sure they capitalized on the opportunity to add yet another trophy to the case inside Olson Auditorium. The Lutes showed why they have lead the NWC for the entire season with a 6^th minute goal from junior forward Trevor Thompson following a pass from senior Alex White.
 
The starters continued to apply pressure to the Pioneers, but the ensuing shots couldn't find the target. But in the 17^th minute Thompson shared the wealth as his pass to senior forward Craig Johnson gave Johnson an opportunity to put the Lutes up 2-0 in which he would execute.
 
The Lutes defense features multiple NWC Weekly Defense Award winners, and they showed why that is on Sunday. The Lutes held the Pioneers without a shot through the first 45 minutes. Head Coach John Yorke joined in honoring the Lute seniors on senior day by substituting a wave of senior reserves in both halves of the game.
 
Seniors Alex White, Sam Erickson, Isaiah Baer, Craig Johnson, Sammy Tafolla, Joe Camp, Brandt Kelly, Eli Visser, Ayden Lawes, Lucas Hempen, and Robby Guyer were honored by their friends and family on Sunday.
 
The starters made their way back into the game in the second half for a short period of time. White used his head to score on a cross from Tafolla and put the Lutes up 3-0. Just prior to White's goal, consecutive yellow cards were issued to the Lutes bench from the head official.
 
Tafolla found a goal of his own in the 61^st minute as the usual corner kick subject for the Lutes. Tafolla used his right foot to bend the ball around the post of the Pioneers goal as the ball crept into the back portion of the net. Tafolla put the Lutes up 4-0.
 
Following substitutions for the Lutes to their senior reserves, freshman Connor O'Brien found himself open at the edge of the Pioneers box and executed on his shot to seal the deal for the Lutes with a 5-0 lead. Freshman Owen Bliskis was credited with an assist on O'Brien's goal.
 
For the final 15-minutes of the match, the Lutes cruised to another clean sheet, their fourth consecutive. Head Coach John Yorke earns his seventh Northwest Conference Championship title, and his sixth NCAA Tournament appearance.
 
The Lutes now shift their focus to handling business against cross-town rival UPS Loggers on East Field, Wednesday November 1^st, at 7 p.m.
 
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