SALEM, Ore. --- The Pacific Lutheran University Women's Soccer team (10-1-3, 9-0-1 NWC) avenged their only prior draw of the conference season against the Willamette Bearcats (4-5-4, 3-5-2 NWC), defeating the cats in Salem on Sunday, 3-0. Senior Hannah Cecil scored once while junior Bella Hanna scored her fifth of the season on a header off of a corner kick.
 
Lutes senior goalkeeper got going early in the game, making a save on the first Bearcat shot of the game in the fourth minute. Hannah Cecil and Lily Dose responded with three shots, with both of Dose's requiring a save from the Willamette keeper.
 
In the 16^th minute, Cecil's next shot hit off of the left post, where Olivia Boehm's rebound attempt was saved by the Bearcats. Six minutes later, the Lutes took a 1-0 lead after their corner kick found the head of a Willamette player, and wound up in the back of the net for an own-goal. Cecil further extended the Lutes lead in the 33^rd minute, slipping through the Bearcat defensive line and putting the Lutes up 2-0.
 
Kiana Gutierrez subbed into the game late in the half, ripping a pair of shots that hit the cross bar and the other was saved. The final Bearcat shot with ten-seconds remaining in the half was unable to beat Winkler, as the Lutes took a 2-0 lead into the break.
 
Winkler racked up two more saves to open the final half, maintaining her shutout. From there, the Lutes defense held Willamette without a shot for nearly 30-minutes. Opening the door for the Lutes offense to extend the lead behind senior Julia Causbie and junior Bella Hanna. The duo has combined for numerous corner-kick scores this season, and the added yet another in the 81^st minute. Causbie's corner found the head of Hanna and fell into the lower right portion of the Willamette goal. Hanna's goal was the dagger, earning the Lutes a 3-0 victory and Winkler a shutout in goal.
 
"I'm really proud of how we performed today, they were a tough team. The score does not reflect the intensity and toughness of today's game; it had an NCAA Tournament-feel to it. Lisa has done an amazing job this year with her program, they are a very, very improved team so it was a tough battle. Bella Hanna scored another off of a corner, while Olivia Olson and Kelan Betts were outstanding in the midfield. It was a good mature, disciplined, team win against a tough team on the road. We have another big environment on Wednesday at UPS, and it's a short week, so we have lots to recovery to do to prepare for Wednesday. Go Lutes!" said Head Coach Seth Spidahl following the Lutes 3-0 win over Willamette.
 
PLU's offense controlled the tempo, taking 17 shots to the Bearcats eight, meanwhile goalkeeper Abby Winkler made four saves in the game. Cecil led the team with five shots, and Kiana Gutierrez fired four of her own coming off of the bench for the Lutes. Cecil and Lily Dose accounted for four of the Lutes seven attempts on-goal.
 
The Lutes have a pair of days of rest before taking on the Loggers of Puget Sound on Wednesday and hosting the Pioneers of Lewis & Clark next Sunday on East Field at 2:45 p.m.
 
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