PARKLAND, Wash. –The Whitman College women's soccer team played on the road Saturday afternoon against Pacific Lutheran University. Although the Northwest Conference matchup was played in the rain, the game proved to be a thriller. After falling behind early in the second half, Lena de Guzman sent the equalizer into the net tying the game at one. However, a goal in the final minute lifted the Lutes over the Whits 2-1.
 
Whitman played toe-to-toe with the NWC's top-ranked Lutes throughout the entire match, outshooting them 12-10 overall and 6-5 on goal. Missionary Kathleen Daly-Jensen tallied two shots on goal throughout the contest and nearly put the Whitties up 1-0 in the 19th minute and again in the 37th, but both shots were saved by Pacific Lutheran goalkeeper Takara Mitsui.
 
The Missionaries fired six shots in the first half, but the game entered the break scoreless. Eight minutes into the second half, PLU got the first goal and took a 1-0 lead over Whitman on Machaela Graddy's score. The Whitties wasted little time getting back into the game as de Guzman header goal tied the game 1-1.
 
The Missionaries continued to put pressure on the Lutes, taking two shots that required Mitsui saves in the 65th and 69th minutes. Whitman goalkeeper Haley Case played outstanding all day collecting three saves and keeping the Missionaries within striking distance.
 
At the 89:23 mark PLU's Machaela Graddy put the Lutes ahead 2-1 on what would prove to be the game-winning goal. The Missionaries came up just short of the upset, but have reason to keep their heads up as they head to the University of Puget Sound tomorrow.