LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- The Loyola Marymount Lions scored a goal late in the first half before overcoming steady pressure from the Portland Pilots throughout the second half to escape with a 1-0 win in a West Coast Conference women's soccer game played on Friday night at Sullivan Field.
 
The Pilots (6-10-0, 2-4-0 WCC) did have a few scoring chances in the first half and continued to push forward searching for the equalizer after the break, but in the end the goal by LMU's (10-4-1, 4-1-0 WCC) Morgan Hilby would stand.
 
The Pilots looked good early and had a couple of quality chances during the game's first 25 minutes, including a hard-hit shot off the foot of Noelle La Prevotte that was blocked in the fifth minute. Moments later Maddie Dieker nearly found the back of the net when she hit one towards the left post. But LMU goalkeeper Charlee Pruitt made a nice, diving save to push the ball just wide to keep the game scoreless.
The Lions then jumped ahead when they went quick on a free kick in the 41st minute, getting the ball to Jill Farley left of the 18. Farley then sent in a perfectly placed ball towards the center of the box, and that's where Hilby did well to finish with a header, handing the Lions the lead just before the half.
 
Allison Wetherington nearly had the answer two minutes later when the Pilots earned a free kick just outside the 18-yard box. Wetherington stepped up and hammered a ball towards the upper left corner, but the shot hit the crossbar allowing the Lions to take the one-goal lead into the locker room. Pruitt just did get a slight touch on it to re-direct the ball off the bar.
 
The second half was all Pilots early as Portland gained possession and continued to keep the ball in the LMU half of the field for the first 25 minutes. During that stretch, the Pilots sent a couple of searching balls into the box, but couldn't quite connect with that final touch.
 
Then in the 82nd minute, Haylee DeGrood played a stellar ball forward that Wetherington was somehow able to get to and send a pass across the goal mouth, despite getting drilled by Pruitt in the process. Hannah Griffiths Boston nearly got a finishing touch on it, but the LMU backline came through, clearing the ball and preserving the shutout.
 
Next up for the Pilots is a short trip to Malibu to face the Pepperdine Waves on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. at Rokus Field.