TACOMA, Wash. --- The No.17-ranked Pacific Lutheran University Women's Soccer team (11-1-4, 10-0-2 NWC) scored three unanswered goals in their return to East Field on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Lewis & Clark Pioneers (4-9-2, 2-8-1 NWC), 3-1.
 
Senior defender Bellas Hanna had the first attempt of the game in the 11^th minute, trying to connect on the header off of a corner kick, but this time missed high. As the Pioneers responded on a counter attack, their cross attempt found the foot of a Lute defender in effort to clear the ball, but instead sailed over the head of Abby Winkler and into the Lutes goal for an own-goal. The Pioneers led 1-0 early.
 
PLU responded with four shots, three of which on goal, but could not beat the keeper. Olivia Boehm and Hannah Cecil's attempts found the crossbar and went out for a goal kick. But in the 26^th minute, senior Julia Causbie was able to find a gap in the Pioneers net, beating the keeper and knotting the score at 1-1.
 
Six minutes later, Head Coach Seth Spidahl went to his bench, bringing in Carmen Kiewert. Kiewert scored her first goal of her PLU career just 35-seconds later, rebounding the shot from Hannah Cecil that deflected off of the goalkeeper. The Lutes survived a late chance from the Pioneers hitting off the crossbar to take a 2-1 lead into halftime.
 
The Lutes went right to work as they came out of the break, senior Lily Dose found Cecil for the third-straight goal for PLU. Cecil's score not only put the Lutes up 3-1, but also put Cecil at the top of the Northwest Conference standings for goals scored. The defense continued to prove to be one of the best in the Northwest Conference, holding Lewis & Clark without a shot in the second half until the 84^th minute, where they would miss the target high. The Lutes remain unbeaten in Northwest Conference play, and remain in first-place following Sunday's 3-1 win.
 
"Tough game today, Lewis & Clark is a very tricky opponent, they have some great players and a great coaching staff. Credit to them, they continued to compete and battle in a very physical game. We knew this would be a tough game, and I am very proud of the team. Not quite the way we wanted to start, but we responded with well a couple goals against the win. I felt like we played really well in the second half, but couldn't quite get an extra goal to really seal it. But that's credit to Lewis & Clark, they really competed. I'm really proud of the team, it's always tough to have four games in eight days. I think the team did awesome overall, and we're excited to get rested and compete next weekend at home, and have senior day." Said Head Coach Seth Spidahl following the Lutes 3-1 victory.
 
"Special shoutout to Carmen Kiewert to score her first PLU goal in her career. I thought Abby Winkler and Katelyn McDougal had phenomenal games in the back, and it was good to see Hannah get her tenth goal to tie her for the conference lead. It was also awesome to see Joslyn Kruse get in at the end, she did great as well. Go Lutes!"
 
The Lutes defense failed to yield a Pioneer shot on target, meanwhile the offense took 16 shots with nine on target. Cecil and Causbie fired three shots each, leading the Lutes roster of ten different players attempting shots in the game. Winkler allowed one goal, an own-goal, but without any other chances she was not required to make a save.
 
The Lutes close out the homestand next weekend, hosting Pacific and George Fox, with senior day to come on Sunday at 1:45 p.m.
 
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