TACOMA, Wash. – The creative and fluid attack which carried Whitman College to victory in its first men's soccer clash host Pacific Lutheran University never had the opportunity to materialize in the rematch Saturday afternoon at East Field.

A tough first-half red card against Whitman forced the visiting Missionaries to toil one man down for the lion's share of the match, and PLU goals in each half doomed Whitman to a 2-0 loss in Northwest Conference play.

The Lutes' Diego Aceves scored on the penalty kick that ensued after Whitman was carded for contact in its own penalty area, 34 minutes into the match. The Missionaries buckled down and prevented further damage, 10-on-11, until late in the second half.

"Any time you go down a man, it's tough," Whitman head coach Mike Washington said. "Playing with 10 men, eventually you get worn down."

Washington said he didn't "particularly think it was a red-card offense" when Whitman goalkeeper Niko Contos became entangled with an attacking Lute, because that player "wasn't in possession of the ball."

Regardless, he added, the short-handed Missionaries deserved an "'A' for effort," and were much-improved following their previous loss, a 6-1 setback against Whitworth on Oct. 11 in Walla Walla.

Only one of PLU's 19 shots in the run of play found the back of the net.

The only non-PK goal allowed (by Justin Manao, on an assist from Bennett Bugbee in the 70th minute) came 10-on-11, and "late in the game, too."

"We worked incredibly hard to keep our shape with 10 players," Washington said. "That was quite pleasing, even though it was not a great result."

Whitman's back line kept working uphill. Washington lauded Trayvon Foy, Kyle Flannery, Isaac Sappington and Logan Grime.

"Our back four did a nice job dealing with pressure," he said. "Praise goes to them. They worked hard and did extremely well."

Foy and Grime each played the full 90.

Whitman out-shot the Lutes 7-6 after halftime and committed three fewer fouls. Flannery, Park Harmon and Nathanael Fleming each had two shots and one shot on goal for the Missionaries.

Whitman, which defeated PLU 2-1 on Oct. 5 in Walla Walla, fell to 6-7 overall and 3-5 in the conference. PLU improved to 7-7 and 4-4.

Whitman visits the University of Puget Sound at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.