PORTLAND, Ore.—Lewis & Clark College women's soccer center backs Abby Hayes and Kate Meinhard both scored but it wasn't enough to overcome defending Northwest Conference Champions Pacific Lutheran University on Saturday at Griswold Stadium. 
 
THE BASICS
 
Pacific Lutheran 5, Lewis & Clark 2
(Lewis & Clark 3-2-1, NWC 1-1) 
(Pacific Lutheran 4-1-3, NWC 3-0-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Pacific Lutheran scored five goals in the opening 26:01, including four-straight goals off set pieces, to take control and the Pioneers comeback bid fell short. 
 
Lewis & Clark responded with a pair of set piece goals of their own and held the Lutes scoreless for the final 60+ minutes in the first meeting of the season between the two sides. 
 
Hayes (first collegiate goal) and Meinhard each scored their first goals of the season. Senior Celeste Schreifels and sophomore Grace Smith added one primary assist apiece. 
 
Sophomore goalie Delaney Jones made six stops in the contest. 

Reigning NWC Offensive Player of the Year Hannah Cecil opened the scoring at 7:42 off a feed from Julia Causbie. 
 
Causbie, who finished the game with one goal and four assists, made it 2-0 at 10:23 when she perfectly placed a free kick under the bar from 25 yards out.
 
The Lutes added three-straight headed goals off corners. Bella Hannah scored in the 13^th and 24^th minutes and Kayden Hulquist added a goal in the 27^th minute off assists from Causbie and Katelyn McDougal. 
 
The Pioneers responded less than a minute later. Lewis & Clark earned a free kick from 30-yards out. Schreifels sent a hard-low shot on target that forced a diving save from Abby Winkler. The ball bounced away from the keeper and Meinhard was the first to pounce on the rebound to make it 5-1. 
 
Lewis & Clark wrapped up the seven-goal first half in the 39^th minute. Smith's initial corner kick was booted back out towards the sideline. The sophomore calmly floated a ball towards the back post and Hayes raced forward and hit a hard right-footed volley that bounced through traffic and in at the near post. 
 
The Pioneers had an excellent chance to add a third goal in the 81^st minute. Lewis & Clark sent a cross the fell in the box for Schreifels but she lifted the shot just over the bar to keep the score at 5-2. 
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Hayes scored her first collegiate goal in her 65^th collegiate contest. The senior center back had three collegiate assists coming into the contest. 
• Pacific Lutheran outshot Lewis & Clark 19-11 and held an 11-8 advantage in shots on target. 
• The Pioneers two goals against the Lutes are their most since October 24, 2010, when Lewis & Clark defeated the Lutes 3-2. 
• Schreifels became the first player in program history to record a point in five-straight contests. She leads Lewis & Clark with 19 points (nine goals and one assist).

WHAT'S NEXT 
 
Lewis & Clark will host the University of Puget Sound on Sunday at 2:45 p.m. in their second of three-straight home games.