TACOMA, WASH. --- The Pacific Lutheran Men's Soccer team made their home debut on Saturday in the second game of consecutive PLU soccer games as they defeated the Whitworth Pirates by a score of 4-1.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The offenses of both teams were on display on Saturday, as the Lutes took advantage early in the game. Getting a foul call inside the Pirates box gave the Lutes a penalty kick, taken by senior Craig Johnson. Johnson found the back of the net in the 11^th minute, and followed it up with yet another shot just a minute later. The Lutes fired seven shots in the first 26 minutes of the game, two of which were on goal and saved by the Pirates keeper.
 
In the 31^st minute, senior Dane Helle found senior Robby Guyer open in the middle as Guyer was able to find the corner of the net. The pressure continued to by applied as the Lutes closed out the half with shots from Johnson, senior Joe Camp, freshman Connor O'Brien, and junior Christian Pineda. The Lutes lead 2-0 entering the second half.
 
The second half was more of the same for PLU, as Pineda fired a shot that was saved just 98 seconds into the half. Following a large wave of subs from head coach John Yorke, the Camp four junior Trevor Thompson open in the offensive zone, where Thompson would fire a strike to the back of the net. Leading by three for the next 20 minutes, the Pirates were able to find some hope with one of two consecutive shots getting past the Lute senior goalkeeper in Nicholas Gaston in the 76^th minute.
 
But just five minutes later, freshman Owen Bliskis made his first goal in a Lute uniform on a header coming from a corner off the foot of senior Sammy Tafolla. Bliskis's goal gave the Lutes a commanding 4-1 lead late in the game in which the Lutes would remain victorious.
 
INSIDE THE STATS
 
Throughout the day, the Lutes were firing shots one after another. In the first half alone, the Lutes took 15 shots to the Pirates four. Overall, the Lutes outshot their opponents 21-10. Lutes keeper Gaston made two saves on three attempts in the game.
 
Johnson and Thompson lead the Lutes with four shots a piece, three of Johnson's were on target while Thompson had two. Pineda and O'Brien followed closely with three each. But Guyer and Bliskis went a perfect 1-1-1 with one shot, one shot on goal, and one goal.
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
 
The Lutes Men's Soccer team is set to continue Northwest Conference play on Sunday against the Whitman Blues at 2:30 p.m. at East Field on the PLU Campus.
 
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