SPOKANE, Wash. –
Carole Thomas scored her first goal of the season to cut into the Whitworth Pirates' lead, but ultimately the Pirates prevailed 2-1 over the Linfield Wildcats on Sunday afternoon.
Battling injuries throughout the season, goalkeeper
Madi Reimer was originally listed as the starting goalkeeper but she was scratched minutes before the start of the game and backup
Alyssa Bakkensen made her third start of the season and made three saves in the game.
The Pirates capitalized on their first shot of the game just three minutes in to take the lead. Bakkensen got to the ball, but was not able to stop it.
Linfield had the ball for the majority of the first half, but was not able to get the equalizing goal despite six shots in the period. Whitworth capitalized on its second shot on goal of the game in the 45
th minute to take a 2-0 lead at the halfway mark.
The Wildcats had 10 shots on goal and four corner kicks, but were not able to finish their scoring opportunities until the 60
th minute, when Thomas kicked it in to cut into the lead.
Thomas did not have a clear angle to the goal in the bottom corner of the 18-yard box, but her shot went over the hands of Whitworth goalkeeper Isabelle Arends. It was the first goal of the season for the Stockton, California, native and just the second of her career.
Makenna Blix added her fifth assist of the season on the goal by Thomas, Blix's five assists are tied for second in the Northwest Conference.
The Wildcats had three shots on goal from that point, but all were saved by Arends, who saved nine in the game.
Thomas had three shots on goal,
Ashley Guldager and
Michayla Sponsel had two each, but Thomas's lone goal was the only scoring opportunity that the Wildcats converted.
Linfield is now tied for fourth in the NWC standings with Lewis & Clark with records of 7-6-1 and Whitworth is right behind them in sixth place with a record of 5-8-1.
UP NEXT
Linfield concludes the 2019 season with two games next weekend, hosting Pacific Lutheran on Saturday at 11 a.m. and traveling to George Fox on Sunday at 12 p.m.
