SPOKANE, Wash. – In a defensive struggle Saturday afternoon here at the Whitworth University soccer pitch, it was a goal early in the 49th minute during the second half by Kristin Wucherer that lifted the home-standing Pirates past the visiting George Fox University Bruins in a Northwest Conference women's soccer match.

A strong defensive effort by the Pirates kept the clamps on the Bruins' offense throughout the match as they allowed only two shots, both on goal, by Jenna Prewitt and Jasmine Florez.  Whitworth finished with an 18-2 edge in total shots, 9-2 in shots on goal, and had a 10-1 advantage in corner kick opportunities.  The Pirates' Andrea Stump made two saves in the net to post her fourth shutout of the season.

The George Fox defense was also solid, particularly goalkeeper Alyssa Montero, who kept the match scoreless in the first half by making four saves, two of which were point-blank stops on shots by Whitworth's Tiara Pajimola, one of the conference's top-ranked scorers.  Montero added four more saves to her league-leading total, which now stands at 86, in the second half, including another difficult stop on a Pajimola breakaway, that kept the Bruins within a goal.

The Pirates got the only score they would need at 48:17 when Jackie Day slotted a perfect pass across the penalty area to Wucherer, who was charging in from the right side.  Wucherer took one touch, then fired the ball into the opposite corner of the net for her second goal of the season.

Pajimola led the Pirates with seven shots, three on goal, and Wucherer added five shots, two on goal, off the bench.

The Bruins dropped to 3-7-1 overall and 1-5-1 in the conference.  The Pirates improved to 6-5-2 overall and 3-4-2 in the NWC. 

NEXT: George Fox travels to Whitman College Sunday for a 12:00 noon NWC game with the Missionaries … Whitworth returns to action next weekend when the Pirates host the University of Puget Sound in conference competition on Saturday at 12:00 noon.