McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield competed hard for 60 minutes but could not overtake the Whitman Blues, losing 18-4 on a cool spring Saturday at Maxwell Field.
 
How it played out
Whitman took control from the opening draw and scored three goals within a span of 2:14. All three goals were scored by leading scorer Lindsay Schwartz.
 
Linfield clawed back as Nathaly Sanchez scored at the 27:12 mark to make it 3-1, but then the Blues took control after that. Wildcats goalkeeper Kylee Duey did all she could to keep the Wildcats in the match, making 11 saves on 28 shots over the first 30 minutes of action. The 'Cats managed just two shots during the first half, getting one past Blues goalie Kate Whittingham. The period ended with Whitman leading 11-1.
 
The Blues started the second half exactly like the first, scoring three goals before Maya Peterson picked up Linfield's second goal at the 24:28 mark. Alex Jensen added a goal and then assisted on another tally by Gabriella Moe to bring the score to 17-4. The Blues added one final goal to finish out the match.
 
Summing it up
Five different Blues scored three goals apiece. Sage Ali gained five points on the day with her three tallies and two assists. Alex Jensen was credited with two points, netting one goal and one assist for Linfield.
 
Epi Roldan-Rayo played the second half in goal for Linfield, picking up one save while facing 11 shots. Whittingham played the full match in goal for the Blues, stopping 3 of 7 shots to earn the victory.
 
"We fought until the very end," said coach Brittany Hartmann. "We had solid defense today will continue that into next weekend."
 
The Wildcats remain in third place in the NWC with a 4-3 league record. The Blues are second with a 4-1 NWC mark.
 
Next
Linfield plays its final match of the season April 21 at George Fox. The Bruins are currently undefeated in NWC standings. The match begins a 1 p.m. at the Austin Sports Complex.