WALLA WALLA, Wash. – This season's second iteration of the Battle of Whits went Whitman's way as the Blues defeated visiting Whitworth 2-0 in a Northwest Conference women's soccer match on Wednesday night at James Hayner Field.
The Blues (8-4-3 overall, 7-3-1 NWC) swept the season series over the Pirates, who fell to 3-9-1 overall, 2-8-1 NWC.
Whitworth appeared to be off to a blazing start as Kaiti Low put a shot on goal within the first minute of play. Whitman settled in a took seven of the next eight shots, six of them on target. The Pirate defense held tough until the Blues broke though in the 42nd minute after Bailey Bell scored following a corner kick.
Whitman doubled its lead immediately following the second half kickoff. Leah Barnes found Avery Cohen downfield, who got behind the Pirate defense and scored on a breakaway. Cohen is now tied for the league-lead in goals with seven.
The Bucs nearly cut into the lead with 10 minutes to play when a cross was headed for Lily Cardenas on the back post, but they couldn't convert.
Shot totals finished 19-11 in total and 11-5 in shots on target, both in favor of the Blues.
Low and Emma Ellerd led the Pirate attack with three shots and two shots on goal each. Karlee Roderick made nine saves at goalkeeper.
Bell, Cohen and Chloe Anderson led Whitman with three shots apiece. Lindsey Pasena-Littlesky made five saves in her fifth shutout.
The Whitworth women return to Spokane to take on Pacific (Ore.) on Sunday at 2:45 pm.
