Box Score By: Ryan Lackey
NEWBERG, Ore. --- The Bruins lost narrowly to the Pacific Lutheran University Lutes on Saturday, 1-0. Lutes senior Blake Warner tallied the only goal of the day in the 88th minute, pouncing on a ball that deflected off of teammate Jamie Hoffman. The Lutes totaled 14 shots, forcing Bruins keeper Ally Swanson into five saves.
Junior Becca Allen nearly gave the Bruins the lead over the first-place Lutes in the first half, lofting in a long shot from twenty-five yards that Lutes keeper Takara Mitsui tipped over the bar. A few minutes later, Pacific Lutheran threatened, firing a midrange shot off the right post. Both teams were limited offensively in the first half by the damp conditions and back-and-forth midfield play. Swanson was an aerial force on the Lutes' set pieces, gathering and punching away balls floated into the box.
The Bruins came inches from leading again early in the second half, when Sydney Sikes had her long effort, too, nicked over the bar by the leaping Mitsui. Most of the Bruin offense came on long balls forward, leading to four total shots.
"I'm extremely satisfied with the level of play and the effort we put forth," said head coach Corey Hand. "There was no gap between each team, as we came out and went toe to toe with one of the top contenders in the conference."
In the 71st minute, Bruins defender Brett Dodson preserved the draw momentarily: the last defender on a Lutes breakaway, she made a crucial tackle that slowed the counterattack, then cleared a Lutes shot that eluded Swanson off the goal line.
Overall, the Bruins managed to stymie the in-form Lutes offensively and nearly came away with a result, until Warner capitalized on the loose ball for the Lutes. Repeated attempts by Lutes attackers to play long through balls were cut off by alert Bruin defenders. Junior Leilani Barker, in particular, did well to defend her flank and provide a speedy attacking option going forward.
With the loss, the Bruins fall to 3-7-1 in conference play, 3-9-3 overall. Pacific Lutheran improves to 9-2 in conference and 11-3-1 overall.
The Bruins next play Puget Sound at home on Sunday, while Pacific Lutheran will travel to Lewis and Clark.
