by Andrew Goodwin, Sports Information Assistant 

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Pacific Lutheran Lutes used two first half goals and a stifling defense to defeat the Whitworth Pirates 2-0 in Saturday afternoon's Northwest Conference women's soccer match. 

The loss dropped the Bucs to 7-3-3 overall and 5-2-2 in Northwest Conference play. The Lutes moved to 7-3-3 and 6-2-1 in the NWC.

The Lutes jumped onto the scoreboard in the first minute of the match. Leah McGee loosed a 10-yard shot that flew into the back of the net and gave Pacific Lutheran a 1-0 advantage. 

Whitworth attempted to equalize over the next 20 minutes of the half, getting chances to score on shots from Gabriella Coprivnicar and Arielle Van Peursem. Niether was able to find the back of the net. 

Tasha Tennyson put the Lutes up a pair with her third goal of the year. Tennyson knocked over Amanda Gerard en route to a one-on-one chance with Molly Webster, which Tennyson buried. 

After heading into halftime down 2-0, Whitworth earned more offensive opportunities in the second half but couldn't put the ball in the back of the net. The Pirates got early shots from Hannah Rae Miller and Coby Yoshimura, but both missed wide. 

Kelly Wucherer picked up Whitworth's lone shot on goal for the match in the 84th minute. Gerrard followed with a shot that was blocked as the Pacific Lutheran defense clamped down to earn the shutout. 

Natalie Robinson finished the match with just one save for the Lutes. Webster saved two shots for the Bucs, including a fingertip grab in the second half. 

Whitworth will look to bounce back Sunday afternoon when it takes on Puget Sound at 12:00 p.m.