PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Lewis & Clark Pioneers allowed a goal in the 61st minute on a night where shots on goal were at a premium in Wednesday's 1-0 loss to the Linfield Wildcats at Griswold Stadium.

Jill Leroux scored on a header off Michayla Sponsel's pass to move the Wildcats ahead in the match. Brecklyn Beighle missed on the Pios' only shot on goal, although Kennie Beighle nearly gave Lewis & Clark the lead in the 15th minute on a shot that missed narrowly right. Caitlin Gallagher led the Pioneers with three shots.

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Key Moments

The Pioneers opened the game and took the first three shots including both the shot on goal and near score by the Beighle sisters. In the first minute, Anjali Kothari missed top right before Madi Reimer made a save on Brecklyn Beighle's shot in the 12th minute.

Working off a pass up the left side from Brecklyn Beighle, Jezza Hutto was even with the six-yard box and centered the ball to Kennie Beighle, who tapped the ball toward the right post. Reimer angled toward the ball and watched it escape the net slightly to the right. 

Linfield (6-1-0, 6-1-0 NWC) had more work in its favor offensively the rest of the way including the score by Leroux in the 61st minute. Sponsel crossed the ball from the right corner and Leroux headed the ball to the right side while Pioneers goalkeeper Sophia Young was working toward the middle of the net to play the cross. Neither team took a shot for the duration of the game.

Deeper Look

• The loss snaps the Pioneers three-game unbeaten streak, while Linfield has won six of its last seven
• Young's one save came five minutes before Leroux's goal when Sponsel took a try from wide right that Young brought in near the right post
• The goal is the first allowed by the Pios since the early second half of the 2-1 win against George Fox on Mar. 7
• Madi Pastores, Emily Tash and Hutto started in the defender spots, while Alexa Myers and Becca McCullough joined Kothari and Brecklyn Beighle as midfielders 
• Hutto, McCullough, Pastores and Brecklyn Beighle played all 90 minutes
• After a combined 35 fouls against Pacific last Sunday, the teams had a total of 16 on Wednesday, six of which were by the Pios
• Following three games to begin the year with less than four corner kicks in each, the Pios have had at least four in their last two games 
• Courtney Schmidt was issued a yellow card in the 32nd minute

Looking Ahead

Lewis & Clark (2-2-1, 2-2-1 NWC) wraps up the home-and-home with Linfield on Sunday.