Setting the Scene: The eight-time defending Northwest Conference Champion Pacific Lutheran University women's soccer team returns home riding an 14-game unbeaten run and sits tied atop the conference standings with two games to go. The Lutes look to solidify another title this weekend, beginning today with a game against in-state rival Whitworth University.
Series History: The in-state rivals have met 71 times since the 1989 campaign with PLU holding a 34-29-7 advantage in the series. PLU has won 12 straight and is unbeaten (15-0-1) over the last 16 encounters. Earlier this year Liv Olson scored in the 77th minute in a 1-0 Lute win in Spokane on Oct. 12.
About the Lutes: Pacific Lutheran (10-2-6, 10-0-4 NWC) gets to unpack its bags after playing seven of its last eight games on the road. The Lutes own a 14-game unbeaten streak and sit tied for first place with crosstown rival University of Puget Sound with two games to play.
Liv Olson scored in the 79th minute last Saturday in a 1-0 victory over host Linfield University. That game saw the Lutes keep the Wildcats at bay, limiting the hosts to just two total shots and just one on frame.
The following day was a 1-1 draw, eliminating PLU's slim lead in the standings over Puget Sound. Kiana Gutierrez tallied the game's first goal in the 70th minute but the Boxers scored an equalizer in the 84th minute. Pacific was awarded a penalty kick with the initial shot blocked but a rebound allowed the Boxers another shot that made it through and snapped PLU's shutout streak at 693 minutes.
PLU's shutout streak spanned across eight games and included six shutouts while the Lutes allowed just one goal over the entire month of October.
Liv Olson leads the Lute scoring attack with nine of the team's 20 goals this fall. Kiana Gutierrez leads the team in assists with six and ranks second in both goals (three) and points (12). Tia Schwetz is the only other Lute with multiple goals with two while Olivia Boehm had one goal and three assists. All told, nine different players have scored this fall with 13 total players registering a point.
Abby Winkler has played all but seven minutes in goal for the Lutes, posting 82 saves and a minuscule 0.39 goals against average. That includes 10 shutouts and a .921 save percentage. Winkler has been named the NWC Defensive Player of the Week on three occasions this season, including on Monday for her efforts on the road in Oregon.
About the Pirates:Â Whitworth (3-6-8, 3-5-6 NWC) heads across the mountains riding a six game unbeaten streak (3-0-3). The Pirates battled to a scoreless stalemate last Saturday against Lewis & Clark College before putting up its best offensive effort of the season last Sunday in a 4-1 shelling of George Fox University.
Whitworth has allowed just 15 goals all season but has struggled to find the back of the net at times offensively, having been shutout nine times this year and only scoring multiple goals in two games this season. Of the Pirates 12 goals this fall, six have come over the last three games.
Addison Dizard leads the team in goals (four) and points (nine) while Rebekah Hines and Maia Santa Monica have identical stat lines of two goals and one assist. Lily Cardenas and Katherine Kent lead the team in assists with two.
Karlee Roderick has been the Pirates' primary goalkeeper, making 50 saves with a 0.71 goals against average. That includes four shutouts. Paige Broadrick has seen action in eight games, owning a 1.40 GAA with 23 saves and a shutout.
Home Sweet Home
The Lutes have been nearly unstoppable at home since the 2013 season, enjoying an 93-10-14 record in home games on the artificial turf at East Field. That includes going 7-0-3 last fall and having 10-0 records at home during both the 2021 and 2017 campaigns.
Luteville Highlights
NWC Coaches' Poll
This August, the Lutes were picked to defend their crown according to the annual NWC Coaches' Poll. PLU earned 64 points in the poll, owning a 10-point edge on crosstown nemesis and second ranked Puget Sound.
Trailblazing NIL the D3 Way: PLU Athletics continues to lead the way nationally in Name, Image, and Likeness, unveiling the Luteville Marketplace last fall through the department's partnership with Opendorse. But don't stay on the sidelines, get involved and connect with PLU student-athletes on the Luteville Marketplace: LINK
The Luteville Marketplace is the first dedicated NIL marketplace in Division III on the Opendorse platform that directly connects student-athletes with fans, supporters, and business partners in an easy to use website.
Stay connected to your favorite teams by downloading the official mobile app of the Pacific Lutheran University athletic department powered by SIDEARM Sports, available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
Featuring real-time news alerts, schedules, exclusive multimedia content, gameday details and more, the new PLU Athletics app is free and compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
Next Home Match:
Nov. 9 vs. Whitman at 11 a.m.
PLU Non-Discrimination Policy: Pacific Lutheran University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator Jennifer Childress-White; 253-535-7361; TitleIX@plu.edu