SPOKANE, Wash. – The visiting Lewis & Clark River Otters earned their first win in program history on Saturday, defeating Whitworth 2-0 in the Pirates' Northwest Conference men's soccer opener at Whitworth Soccer Field.
The River Otters (1-5 overall, 1-2 NWC) scored two goals on four shots to snap a seven-match losing streak to the Pirates (2-3, 0-1) and find the win column for the first time since returning to varsity status in 2022.
Whitworth created several dangerous chances in the first half. Early on, Aaron O'Byrne collected a cross at the far post and sent a shot on net that was saved by L&C keeper Micaiah Garan. Ryland Crane's individual effort resulted in a hard low shot through traffic later in the half, but again Garan made the save. Of the Pirates' five shots in the first half, three were on goal.
Despite taking just two shots in the second half, Lewis & Clark found the back of the net on both. In the 47th minute, Eli Craft flicked a header off the top crossbar and over the goal line. 20 minutes later, a River Otter cross led to a Whitworth foul in the box. Sam London converted the penalty kick to double the lead. L&C managed the match well, giving up just one Pirate shot on goal in the final 15 minutes of action.
Whitworth finished with a 9-4 advantage in total shots and a 5-4 edge in shots on target. Crane led the Bucs with four shots and two on target. O'Byrne, Jaxsen Teeter, and Boden Thomson added one shot on goal each. Henrik Dahlgren played the full 90 minutes at goalkeeper for Whitworth, making two saves.
London led the attack for L&C with two shots on goal. Garan made five saves in the shutout.
The Pirates will hope to bounce back with a win on Sunday against Linfield.
