FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- (From Blake Timm, Pacific SID) Goalie Jory Shene and a strong Pacific defense backed up a lone goal by Matt McDonough Sunday as Pacific stunned visiting Whitworth, 1-0, in Northwest Conference men¹s soccer action at Tom Reynolds Field.

Johnson led the Pirates with three shots on goal

Shene came up with 12 saves in the contest, one short of his career high, as the Boxers (5-1-0, 2-1-0 NWC) beat Whitworth for the first time in nine meetings dating back to the 2001 season. The Pirates (3-3-2, 2-1-1 NWC), who entered the weekend ranked No. 7 in the NSCAA/Adidas Division III West Region Rankings, outshot the Boxers 17-4 for the match.

It was the Boxers, however, who made the opportunities count. McDonough scored his fifth goal of the season unassisted in the 27th minute. McDonough stole the ball from the Pirates at midfield, then managed to weave around four Whitworth defenders before pulling Whitworth goalkeeper Kevin Bostock. McDonough moved around Bostock¹s right side and shot to the upper left corner for the score.

The Pirates kept the Pacific defense busy, particularly in the second half when they outshot Pacific 9-0. Their best chance to score came in the 89th minute off Niko Varlamos' direct free kick. From the far side of the penalty area, Varlamos found Chris Johnson across the field and proceeded to drill a shot high to the middle of the net. Shene managed to jump, stretch out and make what needed up as his final save of the afternoon.

Whitworth, which lost for the first time in its last 21 NWC matches, returns home to Spokane where they will host Pacific Lutheran on Saturday and Puget Sound on Sunday. Both matches are scheduled for 2:30 pm and both PLU and UPS enter the week undefeated in conference play. Pacific will aim to keep their two-game win streak alive on the road, traveling to Linfield on Wednesday.