Tough Eastern Washington Road Trip Ahead

THIS WEEK: Pacific Lutheran will make the long road trip across the Cascade Mountains this weekend for Northwest Conference matches against the Whitworth Pirates and the Whitman Missionaries. The Lutes will play the Pirates in Spokane at noon on Saturday and then face the Missionaries in Walla Walla at noon on Sunday.

THE FIRST TIME AROUND: The Lutes split with Whitworth and Whitman during the first half of league play. PLU picked up its first conference win of the season against Whitman, putting up its highest single-game scoring output of the season in a 3-1 win. The Missionaries took an early lead on Julianne Masser's goal just 3:29 into the match, but PLU got that goal back about three minutes later when Karin Hatch's cross from the right wing instead sailed over the head of Whitman keeper Courtney Porter and into the back of the net. At the 29:19 mark, the Lutes took a 2-1 lead when a cross from Shelby Daly eluded Porter's grasp and trickled into the goal. The Lutes, who came into the match with just three goals, doubled that number at 54:33 on Olivia Lee's second strike of the year. Whitman enjoyed an 18-9 advantage in shots and put nine of their efforts on frame, forcing eight saves from Lauren Chambard. The following day, Whitworth notched a 1-0 victory, scoring the game's only goal in the 26th minute. Chambard was strong in the Lutes' goal with seven saves. Lee had the Lutes' best chance about 22 minutes into the match but Dietz smothered her near-post drive.

EARLIER THIS WEEK: Whitman surprised Whitworth, 2-0, in a conference match played Wednesday afternoon in Spokane. Whitman's outstanding senior forward, Corina Gabbert, scored both goals for Whitman. That said, expect the Pirates to be smarting just a bit when they host the Lutes on Saturday. Whitworth is now 10-3 overall and 7-2 in the conference, good for second place. Whitman is now 4-7-1 overall and 3-6 in the conference, good for a tie for sixth place. The Lutes are 3-9 overall and 2-6 in the NWC.

ABOUT THE PIRATES: In 13 matches this season the Pirates have allowed only eight goals while scoring 18 of their own. This is a balanced team with 10 different players scoring goals, and two goalkeepers sharing time between the pipes have a combined 0.61 goals against average.

ABOUT THE MISSIONARIES: Corina Gabbert has come on of late and leads her team with seven goals and four assists. She is a threat to shoot and score anytime she has the ball in the attacking third of the field. Where the Missionaries have come up short this year is on defense as they have allowed a total of 24 goals in 12 matches, the worst goals against average of any team in the conference.

ABOUT THE LUTES: PLU heads into the second half of conference play at the bottom of the nine-team league, but it has played some of its best soccer in recent matches. The Lutes hope to turn about the stats that show seven goals scored and 15 goals allowed in eight NWC matches.

LUTE NOTES: Forward Olivia Lee is currently in a tie for seventh in the conference in scoring with 0.88 points per game - she has seven points on three goals and an assist. Courtney is tied for fifth in assists per game with 0.33 - two assists in six games. Lauren Chambard ranks second in the conference with an average of 6.0 saves per game.

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