NEWBERG, Ore. – Hoping to close the 2012 season with a modest two-game winning streak, the George Fox University Bruins instead let visiting Pacific Lutheran University off the hook and dropped a 2-0 decision to the Lutes in a Northwest Conference women's soccer match Saturday afternoon here at the Austin Sports Complex.

PLU got on the board in the first half when Mimi Granlund sent a through ball down the middle for Lauren Larson, who out-ran the George Fox defense and scored one-on-one against Bruin keeper Alyssa Montero to the upper left corner at the 34:25 mark.  It was her team-leading ninth goal of the season.

That 1-0 score stood until there were less than 10 minutes left in the game, when the Lutes added an insurance goal.  Samantha Benner acquired the ball near the top of the keeper's box, turned toward the left side of the box, and found Hannah Bush with an angled pass.  Bush dribbled free of a Bruin defender and rifled a shot from 15 yards out inside the far post for her first goal of the season.

Pacific Lutheran held the offense edge in the game, out-shooting George Fox 15-10 overall and 9-4 in shots on goal.  The Lutes also doubled up the Bruins in corner kick opportunities, 6-3. 

Marisa Gonzalez earned the shutout for the Lutes by making four saves.  Montero recorded seven saves for the Bruins.

George Fox ended its season 3-15-2 overall and finished ninth in the conference at 2-14.  Pacific Lutheran was 6-5-7 overall and, at 4-5-7 in the NWC for 19 points, is currently tied for fifth in the league standings with Pacific University, which closes its season Sunday at the University of Puget Sound.

In pre-game ceremonies, the Bruins celebrated the careers of their four graduating seniors: midfielders Molly Norton and Esther Harder, 2011 Second Team All-NWC defender Corin Beaudry, and 2011 First Team All-NWC forward Melanie Gaither, who ended her career tied for 10th in career points (41) and goals scored (16) at George Fox.