TACOMA, WASH. --- The Pacific Lutheran Women's Soccer team took on the Bearcats of Willamette University on Sunday on East Field. The Lutes controlled the possession from start to finish, as they defeated the Bearcats 5-1.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Lutes continued their trend of starting games strong, with senior forward Alyssa Leong firing two shots in the first five minutes of play. Leong's second attempt found the back of the net with an assist from junior Hannah Cecil. With a 1-0 lead, the Lutes continued to control the possession in the offensive zone for the majority of the half. With three corner kicks in the 14^th, 18^th, and 19^th minutes, the Lutes couldn't get one past the Bearcats keeper.
 
But in the 24^th minute, Cecil found an opening and scored to put the Lutes up 2-0. Cecil entered the week inside the top-20 in goals per game, and she only improved that statistic on Sunday as she scored yet again just two minutes later, giving the Lutes a 3-0 lead with less than 20 minutes left in the first half.
 
The offense continued to apply to pressure for the entire half, with shots coming from a wide variety of Lutes forwards. But freshman Zoe Markquart found the back of the net in the 42^nd minute off of an assist from senior Riley Shaver. The Lutes held a 4-0 lead entering halftime.
 
The Lutes defense showed its strength on Sunday, only allowing one shot late in the first half, but it missed the target.
 
The second half was more even from both sides, until Cecil found her third goal of the game in the 52^nd minute off of a pass from senior Ella Merte. With a 5-0 lead, the Lutes began substituting some reserves into the game to earn helpful minutes.
 
In the 67^th minute, the Bearcats ended the clean sheet, getting a shot past sophomore Abby Winkler, and making it a 5-1 game.
 
The score held for the remainder of the game, with no more shots taken in the final 20 minutes. The Lutes earned their six consecutive win and expanded their lead in the Northwest Conference Standings.
 
INSIDE THE STATS
 
The Lutes took a total of 14 shots as a team, with nine of which being on target. Cecil lead the team with six shots, scoring on three, and earning an assist in 46 minutes on the pitch. Winkler did not record a save in one shot against on target, meanwhile the Bearcats keeper made four total saves in the contest.
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
 
The Lutes will travel east to take on Whitworth University and Whitman College on the road next Saturday, October 14^th, and Sunday, October 15^th at 12 p.m.
 
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