WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Whitman College women's soccer head coach Laura Williamson said it twice.

"We've got to finish."

Once, before the Missionaries' Northwest Conference showdown against Pacific Lutheran University on Sunday, her remark steeped in grave wisdom, and referring to the golden opportunity created by Saturday's take-down of nationally-ranked UPS.

Again, after PLU had absconded with a 1-0 victory, striking after a second-half red card that Williamson diplomatically called "tough" left Whitman a player short, opening the door for the Lutes' goal.

"We've got to finish."

Whitman fell to 6-3-2 overall and 4-1-2 in league, absorbing its first loss since Sept. 8. PLU (7-2-1, 5-1) won its fifth consecutive match.

A victory would have left the Missionaries alone in first place atop the NWC standings and argued convincingly for a national ranking. Instead, Whitman's first conference and home loss of the year amplified Williamson's pregame warning and postgame lament.

"We've out-possessed everyone we've played this season," said Whitman senior defender Nicolette Carnahan. "If we can get the ball in the net, we'll be unstoppable."

"We controlled the first 45 minutes and should have been up 1-0," Williamson added. "We need to finish."

Whitman's Jade Anderson was sent off after chasing down a PLU player on a breakaway and making a hard but clean tackle 10 yards shy of the penalty area two minutes into the second half.

"I don't think that was a clear scoring opportunity," said Williamson.

Whitman goalkeeper Haley Case saved the ensuing free kick, but misfortune continued to lurk when, moments later, PLU sent a cross into the area on a ball that was precariously close to being out of play down the right sideline. The ball caromed through a tangle of bodies and settled at the right foot of PLU's Blake Warner.

She buried a goal in the right corner of the net.

Whitman continued to control the ball but could not overcome its one-player disadvantage.

"Playing with one fewer player is hard. But we worked our butts off," said Carnahan. "The first half is where we need to put matches away."

The Missionaries did not attempt a shot in the second half, but dominated every facet of play in the first. Whitman fired eight shots to PLU's one, earned five corners (to two) and enjoyed an overwhelming majority of possession against a Lutes side content with waiting for counter chances to emerge. Whitman's forwards exerted constant high pressure, and defenders Jade Anderson and Naomi Lee made controlled, piercing forays deep into the PLU third, supplementing fine distribution from the midfield.

Both were factors in keeping the bulk of action in Pacific Lutheran's half of the pitch.

"In the first half, our biggest issue was scoring, finishing, finding that last pass," Carnahan said.

The most tantalizing of several scoring opportunities came inside the final five minutes, when Olivia Thomson fed Danielle Audino for a chance inside the area, Audino's sure-footed ante banging clear off the right post.

The chances -- and Whitman's luck -- would dry up after halftime, but not the Missionaries' belief.

"There's no reason to hang our heads," Carnahan said.

"We're in a good spot," added Williamson. "We just have to take the tough lessons of today and learn from them.

Whitman continues its conference title hunt when it visits George Fox University at 12 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11 in Newberg, Oregon.