TACOMA, Wash.—Pacific Lutheran University's Ty Brunner scored in the 22
nd minute, to lead the host Lutes past Lewis & Clark College men's soccer 1-0 on Sunday afternoon.
THE BASICS
Pacific Lutheran 1, Lewis & Clark 0
(Lewis & Clark 2-15-1, Northwest Conference 2-12-1)
(Pacific Lutheran 11-2-5, NWC 9-1-4)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lutes celebrated their seniors before the contest and then earned three key points to move within a point of conference leaders Whitman College.
Lewis & Clark senior keeper
Micaiah Garan made five saves in his final collegiate road contest. Garan stopped two shots in the first half and added three more saves in the second.
Sophomore
Brody Kennedy and juniors
Sam London and
Kaden Nakamura all posted a shot for the River Otters. Kennedy notched Lewis & Clark's lone shot on goal.
Pacific Lutheran came out of the gate firing. The Lutes recorded three shots and two corner kicks in the first 20+ minutes.
Brunner gave Pacific Lutheran the lead at 21:28. Ryan Vu sent a looping cross towards the back post that Misha Turchaninov headed towards the center of the box. Brunner got to the pass first and laced a left-footed volley to the back post before any defender could react.
Lewis & Clark recorded their lone shot on goal of the game in the 28
th minute. Nakamura sent a long throw into the box and first year
Avi Rajbhandari jumped up and headed the ball towards the back post. Kennedy, who had just come on as a substitute, attempted a left-footed volley but his shot went right at Lutes goalie Kris Jamrok.
The Lutes would hold Lewis & Clark to just one shot in the second half to snap a three-match, home winless streak.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Lewis & Clark allowed one goal or fewer for the sixth time this season.
- Pacific Lutheran outshot Lewis & Clark 12-3 and held a 6-1 edge in shots on goal. The hosts also finished with a 6-2 edge in shots on goal.
- Garan reached 80 saves in a single-season for the second time in his career. He will enter the final weekend of the season sitting on 290 career saves.
- Seniors Dylan Weinstein and Emmett Olson, sophomore Ren Fukuoka and Garan all played the full 90 minutes.
- Sophomore Oscar Hammond played a season-high 45 minute for Lewis & Clark.
- With their win and Whitman College's 1-0 loss at Willamette University, the Blues (32) lead the Lutes (31) by one point with two games to play. The two teams will meet next Sunday at Whitman with the Northwest Conference Title likely on the line.
WHO'S NEXT
The River Otters will host Willamette University on Sunday at 11 a.m. in their 2026 season finale. Men's soccer will honor their seven seniors prior to the contest.
