MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – A first-half goal from
Amalia Tufts proved to be the difference as the Linfield Wildcats secured a 1-0 victory over Whitworth in a closely contested Northwest Conference match on Sunday at the Linfield Soccer Complex.
After the victory, the Wildcats are now just one point behind conference leader Pacific Lutheran in the NWC standings, tightening the race for the top spot.
The first half featured an electric Linfield offense that continually applied pressure to the Pirates defense and put up seven shots to Whitworth's four. The lone goal of the match came in the 27
th minute as
Rae Gerking passed the ball up to
Amalia Tufts who streaked the ball through the net for her first goal of the season.
In the second half, Linfield applied suffocating defense, preventing the Pirates from logging a single shot in the final 45 minutes.
Alexa Fritz contributed to the defensive effort, holding the opposition scoreless for the fifth time this season.
Mia Curtaz led Linfield in shots with three while
Kami Echiverri and
Jocelyn Jacobs finished with two.
Rae Gerking,
Julia Alvarez,
Ava Vargas-Quiroz,
Sofia Pietrok and
Amalia Tufts rounded out the Wildcats shots with one each.
Alexa Fritz tallied three saves in the victory.
The Pirates were powered by Yacine Bitibale who accounted for two of the teams' four shots. Goalkeeper Anna Boyer finished with four saves and one goal conceded.
NEXT
Linfield looks to extend the winning streak on Wednesday in Portland against Lewis & Clark at 7:45 p.m.
