TACOMA, Wash. --- The Pacific Lutheran Men's Soccer team (12-1-5, 10-0-4 NWC) dominated from start to finish in a matchup between the top two teams in the Northwest Conference, defeating the George Fox Bruins (12-5-1, 8-5-1 NWC), 4-0 on Senior Day. Trevor Thompson's two scores passes teammate Craig Johnson in the Career Goals Scored record book.
 

Conference Title: Defended ??

PLU Men's Soccer's 4-0 win over George Fox on Sunday means they clinched the 2024 Northwest Conference Title! Your Lutes are back-to-back conference champions… on Senior Day!#GoLutes @PLU_MensSoccer pic.twitter.com/vkzv5wcEmH

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) November 3, 2024

 
With the conference season on the line for George Fox, they came out of the gate by taking the first shot in the game, but it trickled into the hands of Lutes senior goalkeeper, Nicholas Gaston. Trevor Thompson and Jared Dubinsky responded with shots of their own, before senior Craig Johnson put the Lutes up 1-0 in the 12^th minute. A long through-ball by Alvin Kamau led to a one-touch pass by Thompson to Johnson into the back of the Bruins net.
 
The Bruins went on a shooting drought, not getting another off until the 39^th minute, where they took three attemps, all either blocked or missing the target. Moments later, Joey Lumsden's shot was saved but sophomore Connor O'Brien executed off of a pass from Johnson to extend the Lutes lead to 2-0 heading into halftime.
 
Trailing by two halfway through the season-deciding match for the Bruins, their offense opened with their best look of the day, but a diving save by Gaston held the shutout in-tact. In the 67^th minute, the Lutes offense looked to further add to their lead, as Kamau found Thompson streaking down the sideline to beat his defender and make it a 3-0 game with 22 minutes left to play.
 
Thompson shared the wealth in the 79^th minute as his own attempts were unsuccessful, finding sophomore Owen Bliskis for the Lutes final score of the day. The strong Lutes defense held the Bruins without a shot for the final 35-minutes of the game, earning them the shutout and the Northwest Conference title for a second-straight season.
 

Back to Back! ????

Relive all the goals and celebrations on Sunday as @PLU_MensSoccer clinched the NWC's AQ bid for the NCAA Tournament#GoLutes pic.twitter.com/apzIoLBNlR

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) November 3, 2024

 
Following a relatively split first-half possession, the strong second half by the Lutes offense, 11 to one in shot attempts, led to the 4-0 win. Thompson led with five shots, with Johnson and Bliskis taking three each. Senior goalkeeper Nicholas Gaston made two saves on his way to earning his fourth shutout of the season.
 
The Lutes honored their senior class during pregame festivities on Sunday morning, with 11 Lutes being honored in front of their family and friends. Nicholas Gaston, Joey Lumsden, Christian Pineda, Craig Johnson, Vasil Mladenov, Jordan Ross, Trevor Thompson, Cole Dobson, Seamus Miller, Jared Dubinsky, and Jakob Rindler were among those celebrated. These 11 Lutes have amassed a 57-13-11 record over the past four seasons, with a 44-7-6 record in the Northwest Conference, and a 30-4-3 record on East Field.
 
With the conference title wrapped up, the Lutes will close out the regular season on the road at Whitworth and Whitman next weekend with both games starting at 11 a.m.
 
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