SPOKANE, Wash. - A first-half goal from Micheal Ramos sent Whitworth to a 1-0 win over Willamette on Sunday afternoon, as the Pirates collected their first Northwest Conference win of the season.

Whitworth (6-0-1, 1-0-1) tied with Linfield on Saturday before netting its first conference victory. Willamette (4-4-0, 1-1-0) suffered its first conference loss after defeating Whitman in overtime on Saturday.

Ramos took a long lead pass from Sam Engle in the 27th minute and found himself free in a one-on-one situation with the Willamette goalkeeper. He dribbled into the box before finishing past a diving keeper to the lower left corner for his sixth goal of the season. Ramos is tied for the NWC lead in goals scored, and has either scored or assisted a goal in each game this season. He leads the conference with 17 points.

Timmy Costa, making his first start of the season at goalkeeper, made one official save in helping the Pirates to record their second shutout win of 2014. Costa also made several key stops off of corner kicks, punching balls out of the box and securing crosses to help keep the Bearcats off the scoreboard.

Braydon Calder made five saves for the Bearcats and Julian Juarez recorded one save after replacing Calder in the second half.

Whitworth controlled possession and had the majority of the offensive opportunities. The Pirates had a 24-8 shot advantage, including a 6-1 edge in shots on goals. Whitworth also took nine corner kicks compared with six for the Bearcats.

"There were moments of the game where our character again was tested," head coach Morgan Cathey said. "To have resolve, resolve is so important in keeping in the game -- our guys are growing and it's so good to grind out a result."

Whitworth will travel to Oregon next weekend to continue NWC action against George Fox and Pacific (Ore.).