WALLA WALLA, Wash.  As a disappointed Whitman squad left the pitch following its 3-2 loss to rival Whitworth here Saturday, two things stood out about that emotion: it was intense, and it will be temporary.

The result notwithstanding, the Blues know that their recent play -- during a three-match streak of defeat-free soccer, and in a rousing second half against the Pirates -- portends a serious run at a Northwest Conference men's soccer title.

"This one's tough," Whitman senior captain Jacob Fritz said, "but we do have momentum."

The loss at the Whitman Athletic Fields left the Blues at 3-3-1 at the halfway mark of the NWC gauntlet. They'll open the second half at first-place Willamette on Oct. 7 having won or tied four of their last six matches -- and having out-shot the opposition in six of seven conference contests.

That included Saturday, when Whitman scored an early goal, conceded twice as the visiting Pirates controlled the remainder of the first half, then saw a dominant second half revival vindicated on a dazzling run and equalizer by Noah Cavanaugh at the 81:29 mark of the match.

Whitworth's Jonah Snyder sneaked behind the Blues' defense to poke in the winner two minutes later.

"We decided to go for it in the second half," said Whitman head coach Jose Cedeno. "We had to shift throughout the match to adjust to their tactics. In the second half, everyone was on the same page."

Whitman out-shot the Pirates 8-5 in the second half and 11-8 in the match, putting six shots on goal to Whitworth's five and winning more second-half corners (3-2).

"Something I've always been impressed with is Jose's tactical abilities," said Fritz. "He always makes adjustments and he always gets it right. We rebounded and put it all out there in the second half. We worked as a unit, and putting the correct tactics into play requires us having one another's backs."

Whitman (4-7-1 overall) got on the board first on an early counterattack. Ben Freedman played the ball deep into the corner for a sprinting CJ Fritz, who pushed almost to the goal line before carving a tight-angle shot into the far corner of the net, seven minutes into the first half. Blues scoring opportunities dried up after that, as Whitworth (5-6-1, 3-3-1) controlled possession and kept the action on the Whitman side of the halfway line until recess. Goals by Eric Espinoza and Ethan Kem put the Pirates in front.

In the second half, Whitman unleashed its aggressive, attacking incarnation that has out-shot NWC opponents 120-50. Freedman set up C.J. Fritz for a dangerous opportunity in the 47th minute. Alex Cooper's header forced a tough save by Bucs 'keeper Jesus Nunez at the 55th. Austin Betschart fired consecutive shots, his blast at the 63-minute mark ticking just high.

Whitworth, meanwhile, didn't muster a shot over the first 22 minutes of second-half action.

Cavanaugh's goal came after a seemingly innocuous distribution from goalie Owen Davis-Bower. Cavanaugh looked, at first, to simply push the ball to midfield, starting from Whitman's penalty area and jogging the ball along the left sideline before veering toward the center of the pitch and picking up steam. A good 50 yards from where his run began, Cavanaugh boomed 30-yarder that cratered the back of the net.

The match seemed destined for overtime, but it was not to be.

"This was an unfortunate result. Whitworth is a very good team," said Cedeno. "We fought every minute."

"We have a definitive style," Jacob Fritz added. "Every single game, we're creating. We have drive. We just need to keep working hard, stay disciplined and stay together."