THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Megan Whitman's goal with 1:31 to play lifted visiting Whitworth to a 12-11 win over California Lutheran in a non-conference women's lacrosse match on Thursday afternoon.
The Pirates (4-5) saw an 11-4 lead disappear in the second half before Whitman gave Whitworth the lead back. Whitman's game-winning goal is her second off the season following a 13-12 win over Kalamazoo last week.
The Regals fell to 3-8.
Campbell Vincent scored six of the Pirates' first seven goals, leading Whitworth to a 7-3 halftime lead. The Bucs led 3-0 after one period and outscored CLU 4-3 in the second.
The Pirates scored four goals early in the third quarter to go ahead 11-4 after Taylor O'Toole scored the first goal of her Whitworth career just over six minutes into the second half. The Pirates would not score again until Whitman's game winner.
The 90-degree heat seemed to sap Whitworth's offensive flow and CLU took advantage, scoring seven straight goals over the next 24 minutes of play. Josie Oparanaku tied the game with 2:55 to play.
After Whitman's final goal, CLU won the draw control, but Peyton Green forced a quick turnover and Whitman got the ground ball. The Pirates were able to run out all but the last ten seconds of clock.
Vincent finished with six goals and two assists, while Sierra Witte scored two goals and got five draw controls. Kayla Jones and Charlotte Norton split time in goal. Jones allowed three goals and made eight saves, while Norton gave up eight goals and stopped five shots.
Oparanaku and Sydney Shin scored four goals each for the Regals.
CLU had a slight edge in total shots (27-23), but Whitworth forced 28 Regal turnovers while committing 22.
The Pirates will return to action on April 3rd and 4th when the Pirates open Northwest Conference play at Pacific (Ore.) and George Fox.
