SPOKANE, Wash. --- The No.21-ranked Pacific Lutheran University Women's Soccer team (14-1-4, 13-0-2 NWC) won their fourth-consecutive game on Saturday, taking down the Whitworth Pirates (11-5-2, 9-4-2 NWC), 2-0.
 
Senior forward Hannah Cecil began with the match's first shot, but was saved by the Pirates goalkeeper. Whitworth would answer moments later with a chance of their own but was sniffed out by the Lutes goalkeeper Abby Winkler.
 
The PLU defense allowed a pair of shots in the 18^th-minute, but both missed the target. Senior Julia Causbie responded with a shot that was blocked and later crossed by the midfielder to the foot of Cecil. Cecil then executed on her shot in the upper left corner of the goal to put the Lutes up 1-0 in the 21^st minute.
 
The Lutes fired three shots over the remaining 24-minutes but all proved unsuccessful. But the defense held the Pirates without an attempt during that time, giving PLU a 1-0 lead at the halftime break.
 
Winkler made a pair of crucial saves to open the second half, allowing sophomore Ally Tattar to use her head to give the Lutes a 2-0 lead. Senior Lily Dose earned an assist as she knocked the ball into the air, giving Tattar the opportunity to head-in the Lutes second score of the game after subbing onto the field one-minute earlier.
 
Kiana Gutierrez picked up a late yellow card, but that was all that went well for the Pirates in the final 28-minutes of the contest, as the Lutes defense failed to allow any more attempts in their half of the field. PLU continues to prove why they are Northwest Conference champions, as they remain unbeaten with just one game left in the regular season.
 
"Very good performance from our team today. I asked them to not be complacent, show up, and have something to play for. And they did just that. Whitworth is probably the hottest team in our conference right now, coming off of six wins; their staff has done a great job." Said Head Coach Seth Spidahl.
 
"We knew it was going to be a tough game, Whitworth is always a tough place to play. But I was very proud of the team, and was happy with the way we played. That's how we wanted to be looking as we head into postseason play next week. It was a very mature and disciplined performance. Lily Dose and Julia Causbie were very good today. Hannah and Ally had great goals as well while our back side was strong. Lots of very good performances, and it's really exciting to see, but now we have another tough game at Whitman tomorrow to finish up the season, and we want to finish strong. We're excited, Go Lutes!"
 
The Lutes offense fired 13 shots in the game, with six on-target, meanwhile the Pirates had six total shots and just three on-frame. Junior goalkeeper Abby Winkler made three saves to maintain her shutout. Cecil had four shots, while Causbie and Tattar followed with three each.
 
The Lutes final game of the regular season comes tomorrow in Walla Walla, Washington, against the Whitman Blues at 1:45 p.m.
 
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