Whitman’s men’s soccer team fell to the Pacific Lutheran University Knights in an aggressive game Sunday at the Whitman Soccer Complex.

From the beginning of the game the number two ranked Knights gave the number five ranked Missionaries quite a show as PLU played a highly offensive first half. In the first five minutes of the game Whitman fended off two goal attempts by junior Jeff Piaquadio of PLU. It looked as if there might be a momentum shift to Whitman in the 20th minute with five goal attempts in 10 minutes but the momentum shifted in the 29th minute of play with junior Justin Manao of PLU scoring a soaring goal over Whitman keeper Michael Bathurst.

The momentum shifted to the Missionaries in the second half with three goal attempts in the first 10 minutes of the second half and a goal by junior Chris Perkins and an assist from Shaw. While it looked like the Missionaries could strike back, it was Piaquadio with an assist from sophomore Emmanuel Amarh of the Knights who ended the game 2-1 in the 80th minute.

During the first half there were eight fouls called – six of which were on Whitman – culminating in a yellow card for junior Shane Gutierrez of PLU. The aggressive nature of the first half became a theme throughout the entire game with more fouls on Whitman in the second half and a yellow card for junior Reid Shaw of the Missionaries.

Whitman is now 4-6-2 overall and 2-3-1 in the Northwest Conference. The Missionaries will play at home again on Saturday October 20 at 2:30 p.m. against George Fox University.