PARKLAND, Wash.  Second-half goals from CJ Fritz and Ben Freedman, and a four-save afternoon by goalkeeper Owen Davis-Bower lifted Whitman to a 2-0 shutout victory over host Pacific Lutheran University in Northwest Conference men's soccer action Sunday afternoon.

Davis-Bower did the heavy lifting in the first half for Whitman (3-6-0, 2-2-0 NWC), coming up with three of his four saves to allow the Blues to enter the halftime break in a scoreless tie.

It wasn't as if Whitman didn't have its chances during those first 45 minutes, though. It racked up 11 shots, including the last five of the half, to keep PLU (3-4-2, 1-2-1) busy in its own defensive third.

Both teams put one shot toward frame in the early minutes of the second half, but each was wide of the mark.

A set piece for Whitman in the 52nd minute turned the game with what would eventually be the game-winning goal.

Gabe Jacobson's corner kick was on the mark to the back post, and caused chaos in front of the net. Luca Barsher collected a loose ball and lofted a pass back across, where CJ Fritz headed it home to break the tie and register his first collegiate goal.

The Lutes were able to muster one shot in the midst of four from the Blues, but Eddie Na's shot was harmlessly high over the crossbar.

Early in the 67th Sean Thomas was deep in the box where he found Freedman for an insurance goal that would prove simply to be icing on the cake.

Pacific Lutheran had two shots after Freeman's tally, but the first was wide left of the frame and the second was easily scooped up by Davis-Bower, who had spent much of the half as an interested bystander when not directing his defenders.

In all the Blues piled up 21 shots to just seven on the day by the host Lutes.

The Blues return to Walla Walla for their next games, welcoming Linfield College to the Whitman Athletic Fields on Saturday, followed by another NWC match on Sunday against visiting Willamette University.