Box ScoreFOREST GROVE, Ore. – A Rigoberto Loreto goal from the penalty spot in the 35
th minute was all Pacific Lutheran needed as the Lutes picked up a 3-0 victory over the Boxers at Hanson Stadium in Northwest Conference men's soccer action.
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Pacific Lutheran pushed the pace throughout the match with the Boxers and showed the game plan only 32 seconds into the match as Loreto found himself with enough space to fire a shot off the crossbar. The Boxers recovered from Loreto's first foray forward and earned five corner kicks over a two-minute period, but was unable to push a shot beyond the Lutes' backline.
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After earning possession in the eighth minute, Pacific Lutheran looked to take control of possession, but was turned away by the Pacific defense and Boxers goalkeeper
Leyton Thommasen (Fr., Des Moines, Wash.).
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It wasn't until the 35
th minute that Pacific Lutheran found itself on the attack once again, as a foul in the 18-yard box led to a shot from the penalty spot for Loreto, who capitalized on the chance.
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The Lutes added a second in the 40
th minute when Bennett Bugbee headed in a Diego Aceves corner to put the Lutes up 2-0 headed into halftime.
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After the two sides exchanged headers in the early moments of the second half, the physicality of the match continued at a high level. A yellow card against the Boxers seemed to push Pacific in a positive manner as Pacific continued to push forward against the Lutes.
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The Boxers were unable to capitalize on their forward drive, but saw a shooting chance from
Babeck Ebadpour (Sr., Fairbanks, Alaska) fall wide of frame.
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The final ten minutes of the match saw the Lutes regain possession and momentum and saw Eddie Na ice the match with a third Pacific Lutheran goal in the 90
th minute.
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Thommasen recorded five saves for the Lutes on the afternoon. On the offensive end,
Garrick Knowles (Sr., Roseburg, Ore.) was the lone Boxer to register a shot on goal.
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Pacific plays host to the Puget Sound Loggers on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
