TACOMA, WASH. --- The Pacific Lutheran Women's Soccer team chopped down the Loggers on the road on Wednesday by a score of 2-0. Lutes goalkeeper Abby Winkler added yet another shutout to her impressive record thus far this season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Lutes tried to continue their streak of first minute goals, but senior striker Hannah Cecil's shot missed just right shortly after the start of the game. From there, the Loggers gained some offensive momentum, firing three consecutive shots in the seventh minute. Just al the Lutes gained possession, the Loggers took three more shots in the 17^th minute. Two of the Loggers shots were saved by Winkler, with the other being blocked. Winkler made another save in the 22^nd minute when she jumped up and punched be ball away.
 
With both teams unable to break the others back line, the Lutes were gifted by a costly mistake from the Loggers goalkeeper in the 43^rd minute. The Loggers keeper left the box and tried to pick up the ball, earning the Lutes a free kick off of the handball. Sophomore forward Olivia Boehm was the nearest Lute in the area, and she placed the ball immediately after the call was made and took the open shot at the Loggers net; catching the Loggers off-guard. The Lutes would take the 1-0 lead into the half.
 
The Loggers outshot the Lutes in the first half, 11-7, but Winkler made four saves to the Loggers two.
 
In the second half, the Lutes continued to apply the pressure with senior Alyssa Leong and junior Hannah Cecil firing shots but missing the goal. In the 60^th minute, the Loggers attempted a shot that hit the crossbar and bounced out, maintaining the Lutes lead.
 
With both defenses stepping up, the Lutes weren't able to add to their lead until the 87^th minute when junior Julia Causbie broke free from the back line and got past the Loggers keeper, extending the Lutes lead to 2-0 with minutes to play. Causbie's goal extends her consecutive game streak and was assisted by junior Kayden Hulquist.
 
The Lutes went on to defeat the Loggers 2-0, for their fifth consecutive NWC victory.
 
INSIDE THE STATS
 
The Lutes were outshot by the Loggers, 15-14, but made the most of their shots. Winkler made an impressive six saves on the day. Cecil lead the team with five shots, one of which being on goal. Senior Sawyer Anderson lead with two shots on goal, but both were saved by the keeper. Boehm made good use of her 15 minutes on the pitch, scoring the first goal for the Lutes.
 
HEAR FROM COACH SPIDAHL
 
"Very proud of our team today. UPS is one of the toughest places to play in the conference. Our goal was to go and get a victory and we did just that. One of our better wins at their place. Proud of our players, credit to UPS they played well. I really want to shoutout Olivia Boehm on her heads up play on the free kick, super intelligent play. Abby Winkler did fantastic in goal for us as well. Lyla Merte did great in her first game against UPS, and Julia Causbie was very opportunistic in scoring the second goal. We are very excited with the result, but we have a lot of work left to do, a lot of mountains to climb. We've got to rest and recover before we face Willamette at home this weekend. Go Lutes!"
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
 
The Lutes will look to extend their win streak at home on Sunday, October 8^th, against the Willamette Bearcats on East Field at 12 p.m.
 
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