TACOMA, Wash.— The Pacfic Lutheran University men's soccer team dropped their last regular season contest to the Whitman College Blues 3-1 on Sunday afternoon.

The Lutes came in to the contest T-1st with Whitman in the Northwest Conference standings with today's game deciding a winner-take-all situation to crown the 2025 NWC champions.

"The result is obviously disappointing, but I'm really proud of our team for a very good season,"  Head Coach John Yorke mentioned. "We will take some time and reflect and then get after it for next year."

Both sides came out very aggressive to begin the match as neither wanted to give up an edge. Lutes would strike first when Yuta Shimazu drew a foul inside the 18 yard box allowing Owen Bliskis to step to the spot and cash in on a penalty kick to give PLU 1-0 lead. Before anyone could even blink or breathe Whitman marched down the field and scored just a few seconds later to tie the game up 1-1. Whitman never looked back piling on two more goals early in the second half to give them a 3-1 lead. The Blues back line and midfield started to pinch in on PLU and limited their shots to only six in the second half. The Blues out shot the Lutes 30-12.

Landon Gordon got the start in goal and totaled 45 minutes and five saves. Gio Aguilar-Gutierrez closed out the game playing 45 mins in the second half and finished with two saves.