PUYALLUP, Wash. - Scoring all three of their goals in the second half, the Pacific Lutheran University Lutes prevailed over the visiting George Fox University Bruins 3-1 Sunday afternoon in an off-campus game here at the Washington Premier soccer field and kept alive their shot at the Northwest Conference men's soccer title. 

George Fox fell to 5-13 overall and 2-11 in the conference, while Pacific Lutheran improved to 13-5 overall and 10-3 in the league.  The Lutes are second in the NWC to Whitworth University, which defeated Linfield College 4-1 Sunday and is 10-1-2 in conference play.  Both contenders finish their regular seasons at home Saturday, the Lutes playing the University of Puget Sound and the Pirates hosting Whitman College.  The Bruins close out their season at home Saturday against Pacific University.  All games are set for 1:30 p.m.

PLU controlled most of the play in the first half with a 10-2 advantage in shots, but could not score until drilling home their first three efforts of the second period. The scoring started in the 49th minute when Jason Bjorgo hammered in a drive from near the top of the box after Andy Hyres' free kick was fisted down by Bruin keeper Jake Maguire. The goal was the fifth of the season and the third in two matches for Bjorgo.

The next two Pacific Lutheran goals were nearly carbon copies of one another. The first came in the 52nd minute when Derek MacLean hit a long free kick into the box where it was headed on by Chad Kearns. Shane Gutierrez, making a run through the box, put a one-touch shot past Maguire for his first goal to make it 2-0.   After a George Fox goal made it 2-1, the Lutes capped the scoring in the 63rd minute. MacLean's long free kick found the head of Lance Davis, who flicked it to the left for Spencer Augustin to one-time into the net. The score was Augustin's ninth of the season, tying him with Kearns for team-high honors.

After a sluggish offensive first half, George Fox was rewarded for its hard work and ball possession with a goal in the 58th minute. Kyle Story's corner kick to the near post was met by Brian Story, who left Lutes keeper Kit Deming with no chance to stop his shot.  It was Brian's third goal of the season and the NWC-leading ninth assist for Kyle.

Deming, getting his first start in place of the injured Brian Kostol, finished the match with two saves, and his defense bailed him out another time with a clearance off the line. Maguire also had two saves and benefitted from a defensive stop of a potential PLU goal. 

The Lutes ended the game with a 15-9 advantage in total shots and 5-3 in shots on goal, while the Bruins came out ahead in the corner kick department, 3-2.