Box Score TACOMA, Wash. – A pair of goals five minutes apart early in the second half gave Puget Sound a 2-1 win over visiting Whitworth in Northwest Conference men's soccer action on Sunday afternoon.
The Loggers improved to 8-3 overall and 6-0 (18 points) in the NWC and they tightened their grip on first place in the standings. The Pirates fell to 5-3-2, 3-2-1 (10 points).
Neither team scored in the opening period, thanks in part to a point-blank save by Whitworth goalkeeper Timmy Costa on a UPS set piece just before halftime.
The Loggers outshot the Pirates 4-1 over the first 15 minutes of the second half and that pressure led to both Puget Sound goals. Carson Swope put back a saved, but not secured shot originally taken by Matthew Durand in the 55th minute. Swope scored again in the 60th minute, his eighth tally of the season, to give the Loggers what would become the winning margin.
Robby Ubben's goal in the 83rd minute pulled the Pirates back within 2-1. Matt Bray had the assist on Ubben's second goal of the year.
Whitworth took two more shots in the final five minutes, but neither one was on-goal.
Puget Sound led in total shots (14-11) and shots on-goal (7-2). Costa finished with five saves for Whitworth.
The Pirates will play again next Sunday at Whitman.
