SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth fell 2-1 to visiting Whitman College in this season's first women's soccer Battle of Whits on Wednesday afternoon at Whitworth Soccer Field.
The Pirates (2-3 overall, 1-2 NWC) answered an early second half goal to tie the match but the Blues (4-1-2), who moved 3-0 in NWC play, found the game-winner just over a minute later.
The first half ended scoreless as both teams battled for chances. Whitman had a 6-1 advantage in shots in the period despite Whitworth having a greater percentage of possession.
The Blues found their first goal early in the second half when Emma Foley was able to rebound her own shot and tap the ball into the net. The Bucs kept fighting and evened the score in the 64th minute. After earning a corner kick, Hailey Herboth lobbed the ball into the box, finding the head of Erin Kumasaka who sent it to the back of the net. It was Kumasaka's first career goal.
Whitman responded right away with the game-winning goal midway through the 65th minute. Katherine Sand crossed the ball to the far side of the box, finding Avery Coen at the back post, who scored her third goal of the season.
Looking for another equalizer, Emma Ellerd earned a free kick just outside the box in the 85th minute. Katherine Kent took the free kick, and her shot was punched over the crossbar.
The Pirates' urgency in the second half produced five shots, three on goal, matching Whitman. Total shots in the game finished 11-6 in favor of the Blues.
Kaiti Low led the Bucs with two shots. Low, Kent and Kumasaka fired the three Whitworth shots on target. Roderick made two saves in net.
Goalkeeper Lindsey Pasena-Littlesky made a pair of saves for Whitman.
The Whitworth women will travel to Oregon to take on Pacific on Saturday.
