TACOMA, Wash.  Pacific Lutheran's women's soccer team defended its home turf in dominating fashion Saturday afternoon during a 4-1 Northwest Conference victory over Whitman at East Field.

The conference-leading Lutes, who improved to 11-2 in the NWC and 14-3 overall, out shot the Blues 16-2, put more of their attempts on net (5-2), and  earned five corner kicks to just one for their league rival.

Whitman managed an early opportunity against PLU, but Pagan Hetherington's shot to break a scoreless tie in the 19th minute was stopped by Lutes' keeper Natalie Robinson.

A corner from PLU's Maddie Landreth just two ticks into the 30th minute led to the match's first goal, a header by Machaela Graddy.

The teams played on even terms the remainder of the period and the Lutes went into intermission with a slim 1-0 edge.

Hetherington and the upset-minded Blues stunned Pacific Lutheran with the equalizer late in the 53rd minute (52:54).

PLU recorded five shots over the next 14:17 before breaking the tie at 68:08 on a goal by Ashley Mindnich that was assisted by Kaylie Rozell.

The Lutes put further distance between themselves and the Blues when Amber Richards tallied in the 77th minute after being set up by Kari Mills.

Richards contributed an unassisted marker in the 86th minute for the final goal of the match.

Whitman, now 2-10-1 in the NWC and 2-14-1 overall, concludes its Tacoma two-step on Sunday with a noon match against conference foe Puget Sound.