SPOKANE, Wash. – Kayla Santa Monica's goal in the 61st minute proved to be the winner in a 1-0 victory over Pacific Lutheran in Saturday's Northwest Conference women's soccer match at Whitworth Soccer Field.
The Pirates moved to 5-10-2 overall , 2-9-2 in the NWC and earned their first win over the Lutes (11-4-4, 9-3-3 NWC) since 2018.
After a scoreless first half that held three shots on goal for each team, the intensity picked up in the second as both teams battled to break the tie.
Whitworth was the team to break through 17 minutes into the second half. Kaiti Low fed Santa Monica on the right side of the box, where she made a quick move to the middle and fired the ball passed Lute goalkeeper Mia Spier. It was Santa Monica's third goal of the season.
PLU ramped up the pressure and nearly evened the score twice. An offside call resulted in a Lute game-tying goal to be wiped off the board with six and half minute to play. With under a minute to go, Liv Olson sent a ball to the far post where Jillian Retzlaff directed it on goal, but the Bucs prevented it from crossing the goal line and preserved the shutout win.
Santa Monica led the Pirate attack with two shots on goal. Lily Cardenas and Katherine Kent added a shot on target each. Karlee Roderick commanded the back line and made eight saves in her fifth shutout of the season.
Olson led the PLU attack with five shots, three on goal. Speir made three saves.
The Whitworth women will celebrate their senior class prior to their season finale against Puget Sound on Sunday at 1:45 pm.
