TACOMA, Wash. - Each team netted a goal in the opening 20 minutes of the match as Whitworth and Puget Sound battled to a 1-1 draw on Saturday afternoon in a matchup of the last two Northwest Conference champions.

Whitworth (10-1-2, 5-1-2 NWC) responded to an early goal by the Loggers (9-3-2, 6-1-1) as Kyle Cacoyannis scored in the 17th minute. With the draw, Puget Sound moved into a first-place tied with Willamette while Whitworth sits in a close second place.

Sean Ryan gave the Loggers a lead in the 11th minute, finishing on a cross sent in from the right corner. Andrew White and Nick Campanelli assisted the goal, as the ball slipped across the goal mouth through a crowded box and found Ryan who finished to the left side of the goal.

Cacoyannis provided the equalizer for Whitworth, blasting a shot from outside the box to the upper left corner of the goal less than six minutes later. The play began on a corner kick from the left corner, as Sam Engle controlled the ball inside the box on the right side of the field and set up Cacoyannis, who scored with a one-touch finish.

Timmy Costa made five saves for the Pirates, including a save diving to his left on a penalty kick in the 63rd minute to keep the match tied. Nathan King recorded seven saves for Puget Sound.

Whitworth held a 12-11 edge in shots, including an 8-6 edge in shots on goal. The Loggers took 10 corner kicks compared with four by the Pirates. The high-intensity, physical match saw 38 total fouls called and five yellow cards issued.

Saturday's matchup featured two teams ranked in the NSCAA West Poll. The Loggers entered the match ranked at No. 4 while the Pirates were ranked at No. 5.

The Pirates face Pacific Lutheran on Sunday before returning home to take on Pacific (Ore.) and George Fox in their final two regular-season home matches.