WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The visiting Whitworth Pirate women's soccer team dropped the first battle of the season against Northwest Conference rival Whitman College 1-0 on Wednesday evening.
The Pirates fell to 0-3-3 overall and 0-2-1 in NWC play, while the Blues (3-1-3 overall, 2-0-1 NWC) earned their second straight shutout.
Whitman scored what would be the game-winning goal in the 29th minute after the Pirates struggled to keep possession of the ball at midfield. Gracia Larson one-touched an intercepted pass and sent the ball downfield to Avery Cohen who beat the Whitworth defender and found the bottom left corner of the net. The Bucs generated one shot on goal in the first half off the foot of Kylee Russell.
Neither team could apply much offensive pressure to start the second half with no shots on goal until the 68-minute mark. Russell had a quality chance just before the 70th minute when she gathered a cross in the box and flicked the ball towards the net, but it was kicked away by Seanee Still. Soon after, Katherine Kent fired a free kick just high from outside the box in another scoring opportunity for the Pirates.
Whitman also had its share of chances to extend its lead with four shots on goal in the second half. Karlee Roderick held strong and finished the match with six saves to stay within reach, but the Bucs couldn't find the equalizer.
The Blues finished the match with a 13-11 advantage in shots and held the Pirates to three shots on net. Whitworth generated four corner kicks, all in the second half.
Kent, Russell, Emma Ellerd and Addison Dizard led the Whitworth attack with two shots each.
Leah Barnes had three shots on goal to lead Whitman. Goalkeeper Eleanor Johnson made one save and Seanee Still made two in 45 minutes of play each.
The Pirates will look to earn their first win of the season at Linfield on Sunday.
