SPOKANE, Wash. - Keith Kirsch's goal late in the 108th minute gave Whitworth University a 2-1 double-overtime win over visiting University of Puget Sound in a Northwest Conference men's soccer match on Saturday afternoon at the Whitworth Soccer Field, moving the Pirates a big step closer to their fourth NWC title in the last six years.

Kirsch scored the winner at 108:55

Whitworth (13-2-1 overall, 11-1 NWC) is now a game and a half ahead of the Loggers (13-2-1, 8-2-1) in the NWC standings. If the Pirates can defeat visiting Pacific Lutheran University on Sunday, Whitworth would claim the crown.

Kirsch's (Jr., F, Colbert, Wash.) goal came in the closing moments of the second overtime. John Prugh (Jr., F, Bozeman, Mont.) had beaten a Logger defender and sent the ball into the goal area where UPS keeper Pete Van Sant tried to play it out. But the ball bounced up into the cross bar. Another Logger defender tried to clear the ball but missed it, allowing Kirsch to drive in and score his sixth goal of the year from just a yard away.

The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the first half when Ryan Powers (Sr., MF, Newberg, Ore.) drove hard down the right side line and in toward the goal. His hard cross bounded off of a UPS defender and past Van Sant for an "own goal" early in the 24th minute.

The Loggers tied the match in the 72nd minute and Greg Swanson lofted a high cross from near the left corner that Ben Coffey rose and headed just inside the left post for his first goal of the season.

Neither team had a shot in the first overtime. Whitworth got off three in the second extra period, but none were on goal until Kirsch's game winner.

The Pirates finished with an 8-7 edge in total shots, but the Loggers had a 6-4 advantage in shots on goal. Van Sant made two saves for UPS, while Scott Barnum (So., GK, Fall City, Wash.) made five stops for the Pirates.

The Loggers travel to play Whitman College on Sunday at the same time the Pirates will be hosting PLU.