Complete box score and play by play

SPOKANE, Wash.- Niko Varlamos scored in the 89th minute to give Whitworth College a 2-1 win over visiting University of Puget Sound in a Northwest Conference men's soccer match on Sunday afternoon, clinching the Pirates' second consecutive NWC title and the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament.

Niko Varlamos scored the winner in the 89th minute

In the classic match up of the irresistible force against the immovable object, the high powered Whitworth offense came away with a win against the stingy UPS defense for the second time this season. The sixth-ranked Pirates, who average more than three goals per game, improved to 15-1-1 overall and 12-0-1 in the NWC. UPS, which has allowed only five goals all season, fell to 9-2-3 and 8-2-2. Whitworth has scored four of the five goals allowed by the Loggers this season and has handed UPS its only losses of 2005.

Andrew Hewitt gave UPS a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute when a long pass up field was misplayed by a Pirate defender. Rather than back, the ball was headed further up field and Hewitt beat Whitworth keeper Scott Barnam to it, lofting the ball into the open net.

Whitworth tied the game just over seven minutes into the second half. Todd Sabrowski's long throw in was settled in front of the Logger goal by Matt Friesen and Skye Henderson scored cleanly at 52:03.

Whitworth continued to control much of the action in the second half, outshooting UPS 10-3 in the period. But the Loggers nearly scored twice off of corner kicks when Barnam was caught away from the ball. But Pirate defender Trevor Osborne twice kicked away shots from the goal mouth to preserve the tie.

The match winning goal was set up by another long throw in from Sabrowski. Whitworth's Jon Carlson intercepted a clear attempt by a Logger defender and passed to an open Varlamos on the right side of the net. Varlamos beat Logger keeper Brian Lawson from seven yards out for the winning goal at 88:50.

Lawson finished with five saves for the Loggers.

Whitworth will conclude the regular season on Friday night at Whitman College. The match will begin at 6:30 pm. The Pirates will find out about their first round NCAA Tournament opponent, and the match location, next Sunday evening.

UPS is still alive for an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. The Loggers, rated 7th in the NCAA West Region, will host George Fox University (Friday) and Pacific University (Saturday) next week to conclude the regular season.