WALLA WALLA, Wash. --- The Pacific Lutheran Men's Soccer team (13-2-5, 11-1-4 NWC) dropped their final game of the regular season on the road against the Whitman Blues, 2-1.
 
Senior forward Trevor Thompson took the first two attempts of the game for the Lutes, both missing the target. The Blues then responded with a shot of their own, with the Lutes defense making the save to keep it a 0-0 game. Whitman continued to apply the pressure on the Lutes, with another shot that was saved by Lutes goalkeeper Nicholas Gaston, but their next attempt snuck past Gaston to give the Blues a 1-0 lead 19-minutes into the game.
 
Whitman controlled the possession in the first half, outshooting the Lutes, something that has not been done often in the conference season. Thompson and senior Craig Johnson did the majority of the shooting for PLU, but it was freshman Mike Murega who tied the game up in the 40^th minute for the Lutes. Murega scored off of a rebound as Misha Turchaninov's shot was saved by the Blues goalkeeper and then found the foot of Murega.
 
Entering the halftime break, the two teams were tied at 1-1. Johnson's first attempt early in the second half, which led to a Blues counter attack that resulted in the Blues second score of the game, putting them on top of the Northwest Conference champions, 2-1.
 
Three shots from Thompson in the second half proved unsuccessful, with just one on target. In the closing minutes of the game, Alex Coope, Owen Bliskis, and Gracen Connell, all took chances on the Blues goal, but each were stopped by the Blues, with the game ending 2-1 Whitman.
 
Sunday's result is the Lutes first loss of the Northwest Conference season, and also their first since the season opener at Santa Cruz.
 
Thompson took six shots in the game, with just one on-target. The Lutes took 13 shots as a team, with the Blues taking 17 of their own, including 10 on-frame. Thompson and Landon Sexton were given yellow cards in the second half.
 
Men's Soccer's regular season comes to a close on Sunday. After clinching the Northwest Conference last weekend, they will find out where they will compete at in the NCAA Division III Tournament on Monday morning inside the lobby of Olson Auditorium.
 
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