Box Score FOREST GROVE, Ore.—The University of Puget Sound women's soccer team clinched its 12th-consecutive Northwest Conference title Friday with a dominating 4-0 win over Pacific in Forest Grove, Ore. With the title, the Loggers extended the longest active title streak in Division III women's soccer.
Amalia Acorda-Fey tallied the first shots of the day, firing a shot on frame in the 4th minute, only to see it saved by Pacific keeper Kristina Morris. Half a minute later, Acorda-Fey sent another shot towards the net, only to see it sail right.
Pacific took the next two shots in the half, their only two shots of the match. Holly Chang-Northway sent an attempt wide left in the 7th minute, and Chandler Bowen saw a shot saved by Logger keeper Casey Thayer in the 18th minute.
Halfway through the first, the Loggers opened scoring with Lauren Swanson burying a cross from Kylie Beeson into the near post from 15 yards out. The goal was Swanson's third of the season, tying her with Robin Vieira for third-most on the team. Puget Sound attempted two more shots in the period, but Cassie Winter sent a header wide and Acorda-Fey sent another attempt high.
The Loggers turned it on after the halftime break, scoring three goals and taking all six shots of the period. Acorda-Fey finally got a deserved goal in the 55th minute when she bent a free kick from 30 yards out into the center of the net.
Eight minutes later, Beeson scored the first of her goals when she collected a pass from Acorda-Fey, then tapped a slow-roller to the near post for her 5th goal of the year. Beeson collected her 6th on the season five minutes after that when she fired a cross from Swanson into the net from five yards out.
Elsewhere in Northwest Conference women's soccer, Linfield— just one point behind Puget Sound entering the day—lost 2-1 at Lewis & Clark Friday. With the win and Wildcat loss, Puget Sound clinched the NWC title for the 12th year in a row. The 12-year championship streak is the longest in NCAA Division III women's soccer.
"Full credit to the players for winning the 2013 NWC title!" said Puget Sound head coach Randy Hanson. "It was certainly hard-fought and therefore satisfying. We look forward to our match with Lewis & Clark tomorrow and the challenge of advancing in the NCAA tournament."
The Logger midfield provided most of the Loggers' offense Friday, scoring three of the four Logger goals and taking 10 of the 11 Puget Sound shots on the day. As a team, the Loggers out-shot Pacific 11-2, but Pacific took two corners in the match while Puget Sound didn't take any. The Boxers made three saves compared to the Loggers' one, and one Puget Sound attack was called offside.
With the shutout, the Loggers have won 12 straight matches, equaling a stretch of 12 consecutive victories from Sept. 29 to November 6, 2010. They also clinch the Northwest Conference's automatic entry to the NCAA tournament, their 12th straight year making the playoffs and 14th appearance overall since becoming a full Division III member in 1999.
Puget Sound (14-2-2, 12-1-2 NWC) will finish of the regular season with a match Sat., Nov. 9 at Lewis & Clark beginning at 11:00 a.m.
