Oct. 21, 2007

Lutes Explode on Offense, Defeat Pacific, 5-1

Courtney Walker - goal and assist

Monica Beard - goal and assist

Box Score

PARKLAND, Wash. – Pacific Lutheran (4-10-2 overall, 3-8-1 NWC) had its best goal-scoring match of the season Sunday as five different players tallied goals in the Lutes’ 5-1 Northwest Conference women’s soccer victory over the visiting Pacific Boxers (4-10-1, 2-9-0 NWC).

PLU's single-match high for goals this season had come in the Lutes' previous home game, a 4-2 decision over Lewis & Clark on Oct. 13.

It didn’t take long for the Lutes to get on the scoreboard as Amanda Crawford used her shin to redirect Monica Beard’s cross into the goal just 1:19 into the match. For Crawford, it was her second goal of the season. Courtney Walker scored her first goal of the season and gave PLU its second of the match with a left-footed rocket at the 12:48 mark. Lauren Northcutt, who had two assists in the match, set up the play with a pass through the defense. PLU made 3-0 when Karin Hatch scored her first goal of the season, taking a pass from Lauren Meyer and scoring from close range.

The Lutes led 3-0 at the half, though the Boxers had an 8-7 shot advantage at that point. PLU goalkeeper Amanda Tschauner came up with five saves in the opening 45 minutes.

Pacific Lutheran scored its fourth goal just 18 seconds into the second half. Again, a nice diagonal pass from Northcutt found Beard running free down the right side, and she shot back across to the left side of the goal to put the Lutes on top, 4-0.

The Boxers got one back at 52:22 when Lauren Kanda tallied her first goal of the season. Becca Roth sent a looping pass into the box and Kanda hustled between two defenders to shoot the ball over goalkeeper Kamryn Morgan, off the crossbar and into the goal.

PLU finished the scoring at 71:43 when Jenae Poe got her first goal, shooting the ball into the net following Walker’s corner kick.

The shots were fairly even as PLU finished with 17 compared to 14 for the Boxers. Both teams showed good accuracy as the Lutes had nine shots on goal and the Boxers 10 on goal. Sydney Vincent had four saves for the Boxers and Tschauner and Morgan combined for nine for the Lutes.

Seniors playing their final home games for PLU were midfielder Melissa Buitrago and defenders Lisa Gilbert and Carly West.

Pacific Lutheran returns to action this coming weekend with conference matches at Whitman on Saturday and at Whitworth on Sunday.

- PLU -