TACOMA, Wash. --- The Pacific Lutheran Men's Soccer team (11-1-5, 9-0-4 NWC) remains undefeated in Northwest Conference play after defeating the Pacific University Boxers (8-8-1, 6-6-1 NWC) 3-1 at home on Saturday. Senior Trevor Thompson scored twice, and is now tied with teammate Craig Johnson on the Lutes Career Goals Scored list (51).
 
Thompson and fellow senior Jordan Ross were unable to get the scoring started early with their first attempts being shutout by the Boxers goalkeeper. But the Lutes defense held the Boxers without an attempt of their own for the large-majority of the first half. Sophomore Misha Turchaninov subbed into the game in the 31^st minute, directly contributing four-minutes later to the goal scored by Thompson off of a second pass from senior Christian Pineda.
 
Pacific got their first shot attempt on the ensuing possession, but missed the target high. With a total of just two shots through the first 45-minutes of play, neither of which on-target, the Boxers trailed the Lutes, 1-0 at the break.
 
Sophomore Alvin Kamau returned to action after serving a one-game suspension due to an array of yellow cards, and made his return a great one, scoring just 48-seconds into the start of the second half; earning sophomore Owen Bliskis an assist. Bliskis responded in the 58^th minute with a pair of shot attempts of his own, but followed by earning a yellow card.
 
In the 61^st minute, Bliskis was able to find a streaking Thompson open in the Boxers box, which the Lutes leading scorer was able to put it in the back of the net and extend the Lutes lead to 3-0. Six minutes later, the Boxers made a wave of substitutions, one of which was able to score to cut into the lead and make it a 3-1 game with a little over 20-minutes to play.
 
The Lutes defense held the Boxers to just one shot for the remainder of the game, as sophomore Ryan Vu picked up a yellow card after a tackle in the midfield. The Lutes defeated the Boxers on East Field, 3-1, inching one game closer to clinching the Northwest Conference title and automatic bid into the NCAA Division III National Tournament. With a win or tie on Sunday, the Lutes would earn enough points to add their second consecutive Northwest Conference title to the trophy case.
 
Offensively, the Lutes took more shots than the Boxers on Saturday, 15-5 with the Lutes having seven of which on-target. Thompson did the majority of the shooting for the Lutes on Saturday, with five shots, and three on-target, resulting in a pair of goals. Thompson's two scores put him in a tie atop the career goals scored record book, with his sights set on the season record as well. Pineda, and Turchaninov had one assist each, meanwhile, Bliskis had two assists of his own.
 
The Lutes look to clinch the national tournament automatic qualifier and Northwest Conference title tomorrow morning against the George Fox Bruins in a match between the top two teams in the conference at 11 a.m. Senior Day festivities will began promptly at 10:15 a.m.
 
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