SPOKANE, Wash. - The Northwest Conference's leading scorer made sure the NWC's leading team stayed that way on Saturday afternoon, leading visiting University of Puget Sound women to a 3-2 win over Whitworth University at the Whitworth Soccer Field.

Thibodeau had a goal and an assist for the Bucs

Janece Levien posted a hat-trick for the 4th-ranked Loggers (17-0 overall, 13-0 NWC), who need only one more win to secure at least a tie for their sixth straight conference title and the NWC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The 14th-ranked Pirates (14-2, 11-2) now need a lot of help from other teams to share an NWC title with UPS.

Lindsey Oakes (So., MF, Boise, Idaho) gave Whitworth the lead early. Greta Thibodeau (Sr., F, Juneau, Alaska) drove hard down the right side. Her crossing pass was flicked on by Whitney Ramsey (Jr., F, Spokane, Wash.) to an open Oakes on the far post. Oakes scored her sixth goal of the season in the third minute of the match.

But then Levien took over, increasing her season goal total to 19, nearly double that of Whitman's Kristen Berndt - who has 11 after today.

Fiona Gornick threaded a pass to the middle of the box that Levien got to first, depositing the ball into the lower left corner in the 18th minute to tie the match. Later in the first half Gornick sent a longer pass from near midfield forward and Levien split a pair of Pirate defenders on her way to the ball, sending it under the charging effort of Whitworth keeper Krista Dietz and into the net in the 32nd minute.

Levien gave UPS a two-goal advantage early in the second half when she dribbled around a couple of Whitworth defenders and fired into the top-left corner of the net in the 49th minute.

The Pirates pulled back to within 3-2 when Jael Hagerott (Sr., MF, Spokane, Wash.) beat a defender to get deep in the UPS box. Her short cross was finished by Thibodeau, who scored her sixth goal of the season in the 82nd minute.

But the Pirates were not able to get another shot on goal in the remaining time.

Deitz and Logger keeper Kallie Wolfer each made four saves. UPS had a slight edge in total shots (13-11) and shots on goal (7-6).

The Loggers will try to wrap up their share of the title on Sunday afternoon when they travel to third-place Whitman College. The Pirates will host Pacific Lutheran University.

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