TACOMA, Wash.--- The Pacific Lutheran University women's lacrosse team (1-7, 0-1 NWC) hosted their first Northwest Conference-counting game on East Field, falling to the Willamette Bearcats (5-4, 2-0 NWC) 21-1, meanwhile goalkeeper Kassie Diller notched the 100^th save of the season.
 
Willamette forced freshman Taylee Alldredge to turn over the opening draw control, taking the counterattack the length of the field and scoring, holding a 1-0 lead in the opening minute. The Bearcats held the Lutes without a shot through the opening 15-minutes of play, while scoring nine total goals to lead 9-0 after the first quarter.
 
The Lutes trailed by 10 after an early strike by the Bearcats in the second, but with 12:37 remaining in the second, Annie Latimer took the first shot of the game for PLU, but was stopped by the goalkeeper. Willamette would add four more scores in the second quarter, taking a 14-0 lead into halftime.
 
The leading scorer for the Lutes, Taylee Alldredge, found her first shot of the game with 12:59 remaining in the third, but it was stopped by the Bearcats goalkeeper. Willamette continued to add pressure in their offensive third, taking a 17-0 lead. Samantha Velasco Patino's shot late in the quarter was blocked by a Bearcat defender before it could reach the keeper.
 
After Willamette took a 20-0 lead with 5:11 remaining in the final quarter of play, Issabella Marchio was found wide open near the crease, scoring the Lutes first goal of the game, thanks to a quick pass from Velasco Patino. The Bearcats added a man-up goal in the final minute of play, taking the Lutes first NWC match in history, 21-1.

"The team played with a lot of grit against a formidable opponent." Said Head Coach Melanie Rizzotti. "We are focused on the process, and are seeing growth in how we are competing."
 
Alldredge led the Lutes with two of their five total shots, both were on-target but neither found the back of the net. Marchio made good use of her own shot attempt, beating the keeper to score the Lutes lone goal of the game thanks to the pass from Samantha Velasco Patino. PLU picked up 12 ground balls and forced six turnovers, while Diller made 11 total saves on 36 shots faced, bringing her save total to an even 100 on the season.
 
The Lutes are back in action tomorrow afternoon on East Field yet again, this time against the Linfield Wildcats (6-3, 2-0 NWC).
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