PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Pacific Lutheran University Women's Soccer team (4-1-3, 4-0-1 NWC) extended their winning streak on Saturday, scoring five goals in the first half to defeat Lewis & Clark, 5-2.
 
Senior forward Hannah Cecil fired three shots within the first seven minutes; one was blocked, one was saved, and one found the back of the net. The reigning Northwest Conference Offensive Player of the Year put the Lutes up 1-0, with the goal earning an assist for senior Julia Causbie.
 
Causbie responded three minutes later with a score of her own, coming the same way she scored the lone goal to beat Puget Sound earlier in the week, on a free kick. The scoring didn't stop there though, as Linfield transfer Bella Hanna scored her first goal in the yellow in black just 104 seconds after Causbie. The defender's score was also assisted by Causbie as she took the corner kick that was executed by Hanna. Just 12 minutes into the contest, the Lutes led by a score of 3-0.
 
Lewis & Clark followed with a pair of shots of their own, but both were saved by the Lutes goalkeeper Abby Winkler. The Pioneers had some deja-vu in the 23^rd minute, as Causbie's next corner kick also found Hanna, which resulted in another Lutes score. The Causbie-Hanna connection on corner kicks accounted for two consecutive goals in favor of the Lutes.
 
Three minutes following, PLU earned a corner kick that was taken yet again by Causbie. Instead, this one found Katelyn McDougal who then found Kayden Hulquist to find the back of the net. The senior's goal gave the Lutes a 5-0 lead in the 26^th minute. 49-seconds after Hulquist's score, the Pioneers got on the board and ended the Lutes shutout to make it a 5-1 game.
 
Lewis & Clark added on towards the end of the first half, taking a page out of the Lutes book and converting a corner kick into a goal. At the end of the first half, the Lutes had their most goals scored in a game this season, leading 5-2.
 
McDougal picked up a yellow card early in the second half, earning a Pios free kick. Olivia Boehm, Lily Dose, and Liv Olson fired shots throughout the second half, but they were off-target and unable to further extend the Lutes lead. The Lutes defense locked in for the first 25 minutes of the second half also, holding the Pioneers without a shot until the 70^th minute, and just four in the final half.
 
The explosive first 26 minutes for the Lutes was all they needed to get their third-straight win in conference play, knocking off the Pioneers 5-2.

"It was a great five goals in 26 minutes, and three of which coming on corners kicks. It was nice to see us execute those corner kicks. Julia had some greaat service today, earning her four assists and a goal. It was a little disappointing to concede a couple goals at the end of the first half, but we locked it down and had a mature defensive in the second half. Lewis & Clark is always a tough place to play, they were well rested, and it was a short week for us with the mid-week game. I'm really proud of how we played and finished out the performance today. We are looking forward to having a couple days off and getting some training in to get better for next weekend. Go Lutes!" said Head Coach Seth Spidahl following the Lutes win.
 
PLU led the way in shot attempts with 19 to the Pioneers 13. 11 of the Lutes 19 shots were on-frame. Cecil took four shots on her way to her one goal, with Hanna scoring on her only two shots in the game. Causbie's four assists are the most in a single game this season and ties the PLU record for assists in a game; last set by Alyssa Leong in 2023. Junior goalkeeper Abby Winkler made six saves on the eight shots on goal she faced.
 
The Lutes will travel again next weekend, as they take on George Fox and Pacific on Saturday and Sunday at 2:45 p.m.
 
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