PARKLAND, Wash. - Sam Engle scored twice as Whitworth built a three-goal lead before holding off Pacific Lutheran in a 4-3 victory on Sunday afternoon.

With the win, Whitworth (11-1-2, 6-1-2 NWC) remains in a close second place behind Puget Sound (7-1-1) and Willamette (7-1-1) in the conference standings. Pacific Lutheran (7-8, 4-5) fell to the Pirates for the second time this season, after Whitworth earned a 1-0 win over the Lutes at home earlier in 2014.

Pacific Lutheran took the first lead of the game before two goals via penalty kicks helped the Pirates to a 2-1 halftime lead.

Kevin Wien netted his first goal of the season for the Lutes, scoring from roughly 10 yards away off a long ball sent into the box by Justin Manao on a set piece in the 31st minute.

Micheal Ramos responded for Whitworth just over five minutes later, netting his conference-leading 12th goal of the season on a penalty kick after he was fouled inside the box. With a stutter-step approach, he finished to the left side of the net as the Pacific Lutheran goalkeeper dove in the opposite direction.

A hand ball foul against Pacific Lutheran inside the box gave the Pirates a second opportunity to score via penalty kick, and Engle capitalized past a diving goalkeeper to the lower left corner in the 45th minute.

Engle helped continue the Whitworth momentum in the 51st minute, heading home his fifth goal of the season at the far post off a corner kick sent into the box by Spencer Wolfe.

Tyler Clarke gave Whitworth a three-goal lead in the 73rd minute, outrunning Pacific Lutheran defenders on a long lead pass from the midfield by Robby Ubben to score his first goal of the year from close range.

The Lutes put together a late rally, as Eddie Na answered scored from near the top of the box to answer Clarke's score less than two minutes later. Na added a second goal in the 79th minute, scoring once again from near the top of the box. He scored with a left-footed finish just inside the right post to cut the Whitworth lead to 4-3.

Timmy Costa made three saves in the final 12 minutes of the match to help secure the win, as the Lutes threatened with four corner kicks and six total shots down the stretch following Na's second goal.

Costa collected six saves in the match. Mike Arguello also secured six saves for the Lutes.

The Pirates took 21 shots compared with 18 for the Lutes, and held a slight 10-9 edge in shots on goal. Each team had six corner kick opportunities. A total of six cards were handed out in the physical match.

Whitworth will play its last two regular-season home matches next weekend against Pacific (Ore.) and George Fox. The Pirates finish with three road contests as they continue to battle for the conference title.