NEWPORT NEWS, VA. --- The No.20 ranked Pacific Lutheran Women's Soccer team took on the No.4 ranked Virginia Wesleyan Marlins on Friday as the Lutes came away with a 2-0 victory, earning their first win over a ranked opponent this season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
In the first twenty minutes of the game, the Lutes and Marlins traded shots. Sophomore Abby Winkler picked up two saves early to add onto her total so far this season. After two shots from the Marlins at the halfway mark in the first half, the two defenses held strong. Neither team got a shot off in the final 17 minutes of the half.
 
The Lutes two shots of the first half were both off the mark, coming from senior Sawyer Anderson and junior Hannah Cecil. But the Marlins fired five shots, three of which on target and saved by Winkler. Both teams had two corner kick opportunities in the first half.
 
The Marlins came out firing in the second half, taking one shot in the first minute of the final half but did not find the target. Six minutes later, the Lutes opened up the scoring with a header from senior Alyssa Leong that found the back of the net. Leong's first goal of the season was assisted by junior Kayden Hulquist. Minutes later, Virginia Wesleyan took three consecutive shots, two were saved by Winkler and one missed the target. In the 63^rd minute, the Hulquist-Leong duo swapped points as Hulquist found the back of the net off of an assist from Leong's shot off the crossbar. This was also Hulquist's first goal of the season, giving the Lutes a 2-0 goal with 27 minutes to play.
 
The Marlins offense continued to apply pressure in their attempt to make a comeback, firing five more shots throughout the remainder of the game, but none got past Winkler. The Lutes took down the No.4 ranked Marlins 2-0.
 
INSIDE THE STATS
 
Winkler earned her third shutout in as many games, moving the Lutes to 2-0-1 on the season. Winkler notched eight saves, bringing her season total to 16. Leong, Anderson, and Cecil lead the team with two shots each. Hulquist's lone shot of the day found the back of the net. The Lutes totaled seven shots as team, compared to the Marlins eight.
 
FROM COACH SPIDAHL
 
"Big time environment out here tonight, this is why we came out here. Virginia Wesleyan was very highly ranked, they played very well last year. Great stadium, great environment, great atmosphere, great opponent. Everything we were looking for. The players did great, they really stepped up and showed a lot of grit. We went up by a couple goals and then had to play good defense in the second half. That's an NCAA environment. I'm so proud of our players who held strong in the end to keep the shutout. Big time step ahead for our program and we are very grateful to come out and be in this environment. We are looking forward to playing another great opponent tomorrow in Christopher Newport. We are going to rest and recover as we prepare for another top-ten opponent tomorrow. Go Lutes!"
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
 
The Lutes will complete play on the east coast on Saturday as they are set to face yet another top-ten opponent in No.6 Christopher Newport at 7:30 p.m. eastern time.
 
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