SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth University and Puget Sound battled to a scoreless draw in a physical Northwest Conference women's soccer match on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Whitworth Soccer Field.
The Pirates (0-5-5, 0-4-3 NWC) have been held off the scoreboard for six straight matches and the last 613 total minutes, but earned a point against a tough Logger (5-2-4, 4-0-3 NWC) team who remained unbeaten against conference opponents.
Both teams played a strong defensive first half with limited quality looks on both ends. Puget Sound generated six corner kicks, but the Bucs allowed just two shots on goal from those opportunities.
Both teams raised the intensity late in the second half looking for the go-ahead goal. Whitworth's Emma Ellerd was fouled in the box and awarded a penalty kick in the 70th minute, but Puget Sound goalkeeper Gianna Maldonado was up to the task and made a key save. In the final ten minutes, the Pirates withstood several UPS set pieces in the attacking third, including two free kicks and two corner kicks that Hayden Goodman distributed into the box.
With just over a minute to go, Kylee Russell raced down field and had a one-on-one opportunity, but Maldonado beat Russell to the ball before she could fire her second touch towards the net.
The Loggers finished with a 9-5 advantage in shots and a 3-1 advantage in shots on goal. The Pirate defense fought off 10 Bruin corner kicks.
Ellerd had the lone shot on goal for Whitworth. Lily Parker and Madison Carr played a strong 90 minutes on the Pirate back line. Karlee Roderick made three saves in her second clean sheet of the season.
Kate Short led the Logger attack with two shots on goal. Maldonado earned her fifth shutout in goal.
Whitworth will host Pacific Lutheran on Sunday at noon.
