MCMINNVILLE, Ore. — The two teams combined for 40 shots, including 21 on frame but in the end neither team was able to punch one through as Pacific Lutheran University and Linfield University battled to a scoreless stalemate in a Northwest Conference men's soccer match on Sunday afternoon.
 
PLU's Nicholas Gaston had to work for the clean sheet on Sunday, registering a season-high 10 saves in 90 minutes of action between the posts. His counterpart, Colby Reese of Linfield, closed the day with 11 saves.
 
"Credit to Linfield. They played very well and were committed to the game," said Head Coach John Yorke.
 
"We wasted the first 30 minutes of the game not being as sharp as we needed to be but once we found our rhythm we created a lot of good scoring opportunities, we just couldn't find the back of the net."
 
25 of the 40 shots came off the boots of a Lute field player with Trevor Thompson leading the way with nine shots, including four on goal. Craig Johnson added seven shots with four landing on target.
 
Of PLU's 25 shots, 11 were on goal while Linfield (1-4-3, 1-1-2 NWC) registered 15 total shots and 10 shots on goal. The Lutes (4-1-3, 3-0-1 NWC) additionally took 18 of the game's 21 corner kicks. PLU's dominance was most pronounced in the second half, owning a 16-7 discrepancy in shots and taking all 11 corner kicks in the final 45 minutes. 
 
The draw keeps the Lutes in first place in the NWC standings with 10 points through the opening four games of conference play. Willamette University sits just behind the Lutes with nine points in three games played. 
 
Pacific Lutheran is back in action on Saturday, facing Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.