PORTLAND, Ore. – Neither visiting Whitworth University or Lewis & Clark College were able to break through with a goal in Sunday's 0-0 Northwest Conference women's soccer match at Griswold Stadium.
Both teams took home a point in the conference standings with the Pirates moving to 3-8-1 overall and 2-7-1 in the NWC. The River Otters are now 4-6-5 overall, 4-5-3 NWC.
The Bucs started slow offensively with their first shot coming in the 26th minute. It was a quality one as Emma Ellerd fired a shot off the top crossbar. Hailey Herboth followed soon after with a hard shot that was saved by L&C goalkeeper Lucia Barron Nunez.
After outshooting Whitworth 6-3 in the first half, the River Otters turned up the pressure and claimed a 10-2 advantage in the second, though only two of those attempts were on target. Much of that pressure came early in the second frame with four shots recorded before the 53-minute mark. The Pirate defense held tough and kept the ball out of the net, much in part to six saves from goalkeeper Karlee Roderick.
In the attacking third, Whitworth's best chance to take the lead came with just under 15 minutes to play. The Bucs quickly worked the ball up field before America Garibay sent a through ball to Kayla Santa Monica for a one-on-one opportunity, but Barron Nunez came off her line to make the play. The River Otter defense recovered and took away a rebound chance from Ayanna Tobeck.
Herboth and Lily Cardenas tallied the two official shots on target for the Whitworth attack. Roderick earned her third clean sheet.
Mischa Vanek led L&C with five shots and Grace Smith added four. Barron Nunez made two saves.
The Pirate women will head to Walla Walla to battle Whitman on Wednesday.
