Oct. 27, 2007

Ferguson's Free Kick Goal Lifts Lutes Past Whitman, 1-0

Michael Ferguson - 47 career goals

Box Score

WALLA WALLA, Wash. - Pacific Lutheran's senior forward Michael Ferguson rifled home a 25-yard free kick midway through the second half to lift the Lutes to a 1-0 Northwest Conference men's soccer victory over Whitman College Saturday afternoon at the Whitman Athletic Fields.

Ferguson's goal, his 12th of the season and the 47th of his career, also lifted Pacific Lutheran into a second-place tie with Puget Sound in the NWC standings. Both teams head to Sunday's play with 8-2-1 conference marks.

Whitman, which had an apparent goal disallowed at the first-half buzzer, saw its conference record fall to 5-6-1. The Missionaries slipped into fifth place, one point behind 5-5-2 Pacific.

Saturday's first half ended in controversy when Whitman senior Andy Huntington hit a shot from about 20 yards out in the waning seconds. The ball bounced off the crossbar and into the net. But the referee, after consulting with one of the linesmen, said the ball entered the goal after the buzzer sounded.

Shots were almost even. Whitman took 14 shots, putting four on goal. Pacific
Lutheran finished with 13 shots, three on goal. Keeper Daniel Mangum made
four saves for the Lutes, while Brett Axelrod picked off two for Whitman.

Pacific Lutheran plays Sunday at Whitworth, which sits atop the NWC standings with an 11-1-0 record.

(Courtesy of Whitman Sports Information Office)