Pacific Lutheran University Athletics

TACOMA, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University men's soccer team outshot visiting Pacific University 13-3 in the game but needed some late magic from Mike Murega to escape the Northwest Conference opener with the win on Saturday, downing the Boxers 1-0 at East Field.

The game was scoreless until Murega tallied his first goal of the season in the 85th minute, burying the ball in the right corner of the net in what proved to be the lone score of the day.

The two teams were even at the half despite PLU (3-1-1, 1-0 NWC) holding a 6-3 edge in shots and taking all five corner kicks. Things were even more lopsided in the second stanza with the Lutes owning all seven shots taken over the final 45 minutes in addition to all eight corner kicks. 

PLU finished the day with a 13-3 edge in shots, including seven of the nine on goal.

"It's always good to win the NWC home opener. Winning games in this conference is very hard to do so every win is a good win," said Head Coach John Yorke.

"It was great to see Mike get his first goal of the season, hopefully that get's him into a scoring rhythm. We need to find more goal contributors so getting another guy on the scoreboard today is a really good thing."
 
Chris Jamrok made a pair of saves to secure the clean sheet. PLU's stingy defense has now gone three games without allowing a goal, a streak that now stands at 330 minutes. The Boxers (1-3-1, 1-1-1 NWC) had four saves from goalkeeper Kobi Miyamoto. 

"What I'm most pleased about is that we were able to maintain another shutout. Overall, a good start to conference play but we'll need to be sharp and ready to go for tomorrow."

Pacific Lutheran is back at it tomorrow at noon, hosting George Fox University to close out its first homestand of the conference slate.