TACOMA, Wash. – An early first-half goal allowed the University of Puget Sound to work its defense and hold off visiting Whitman College's attack in the Missionaries' 1-0 loss to the host Loggers Sunday afternoon on Peyton Field at Baker Stadium.

Whitman (7-6-2, 5-4-2 NWC) generated its best scoring chance in the final seconds of the first half when Clara Merlino snapped off a shot on frame but UPS goalkeeper Lauren Thomas came up with the save to keep the Loggers (10-3, 8-2) ahead by a goal entering the halftime break.

Puget Sound registered four shots on goal, to the Missionaries' one, but it was the first of those four that ended up doing the most damage. Amalia Acorda-Fey gained possession above the top, left of the box and dribbled toward center where she was able to rip a shot from 20 yards out into the top, right corner of the goal just past the fingertips of leaping goalie Haley Case. The score came in the 16th minute and was Acorda-Fey's seventh of the season.

Merlino registered the only two shots of the game from Whitman. Her first came at the 41:38 mark and was wide of the post, and her second was the late attempt that was stopped by Thomas to preserve the home team's advantage.

The Loggers' defense cleared away all Whitman forays into its attacking third before any action was required by Thomas, holding the Missionaries without a shot over the final 45 minutes.

Case finished the game with three saves, the only blemish of her stat line coming off Acorda-Fey's foot in the first half. Thomas earned the win between the pipes for UPS with her one save on Merlino before halftime.

Whitman returns to the Sherwood Athletic Fields for a two-game home stand on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 25–26. The first of the two matches welcomes Linfield College and the second brings Pacific (Ore.) University to Walla Walla the next day. Both games are scheduled for 12 p.m. starts.