WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The Linfield Wildcats suffered their first Northwest Conference defeat of the season at the hands of the Whitman Blues, losing 19-6 on a sunny but cool day at the Whitman Athletic Fields. The hosts came out strong as Lindsay Schwartz scored the first of her five goals off of a free position shot 28 seconds into the match. Nina Moore then scored two more goals at the 28:12 and 26:19 marks to give the 'Blues a 3-0 lead in which the Wildcats could never claw back.
 
Genna Hughes was able to bring the 'Cats back with an unassisted goal at the 24:36 mark to make the score 3-1 but the home team answered with two with-in the next two minutes.  By the end of the first half the 'Blues led 13-3.
 
The stats backed up the score as Linfield committed 15 turnovers compared to eight by Whitman and the 'Blues picked up 18 ground balls to Linfield's eight.  Linfield was also out shot 28-7.
 
"It took us a while to get used to the grass and shake off the travel legs,"  said interim coach Brittany Hartmann. "Whitman is a good team and unfortunately we didn't really get playing until the second half."
 
Linfield played a better second half as they were able out shoot the 'Blues 9-8 but were only able to put three goals past Whitman goalkeeper Kate Whittingham. Whittingham faced 16 total shots, making five saves.
 
Linfield by the numbers
Hughes was the leading scorer for the day with her five goals.  Nathaly Sanchez tallied Linfield's only other goal and garnered an assist to Hughes second goal of the match.  Gabriella Moe was also credited with an assist on Hughes fifth and final goal of the game. 
 
Kylee Duey played all 60 minutes in the net for the 'Cats making seven saves on 36 shots. 
 
Whitman stats
Nina Moore of Whitman lead all scorers with seven goals. Whitman outshot Linfield 36-16, and gathered 27 ground balls to Linfield's 17.  Linfield did improve in the turnover category by committing only 10 turnovers in the second half and finished with 25 compared to 17 for the 'Blues. 
 
Hartmann said small mental errors lead to Whitman goals. "We will be ready for them next time we play them. We just need to figure out how to play as a unit and remember to have fun."
 
Linfield falls to 2-1 in the NWC and is 2 -2 overall.
 
Next
The 'Cats return home for a non-conference match with St. Mary's College of Indiana on Wednesday.  Start time is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Maxwell Field.