PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland's Parkes Kendrick scored in the first half, Noelle La Prevotte found the back of the net in the second half and the Pilots handed the Washington State Cougars their first loss of the year with a 2-0 shutout on Sunday afternoon at Merlo Field. La Prevotte also assisted on Kendrick's game-winner, which is the junior midfielder's first goal of the year.
 
The goal came in the 24th minute and it was set up flawlessly by the senior La Prevotte and sophomore Maddie Dieker, who nodded down a perfectly weighted ball to Kendrick. La Prevotte sent in a ball from right of the 18-yard box, Dieker found Kendrick near the right post with the header and the Portland native did the rest, taking a touch before hitting a shot past WSU (7-1-0) goalkeeper Ella Dederick.
 
The Pilots (3-6-0) took that 1-0 lead into the locker room at half, thanks to some solid defense that forced the Cougars into taking shots from distance all afternoon.
 
And then in the 53rd minute, La Prevotte gave the Pilots a little breathing room with her team-best third goal of the year. After the Cougars failed to clear a Portland corner, La Prevotte gained possession near the top of the box, navigated her way through a handful of defenders and buried a shot inside the left post to make it 2-0.
 
The Cougars then increased pressure in the Portland half looking to pull one back, but as was the case all day Washington State was never able to create any dangerous chances inside the 18. The Cougars finished with 14 shots on the afternoon, with the majority coming from outside the area.
 
The Pilots withstood the WSU pressure and then put the game away by dominating possession during the final 10 minutes of regulation. La Prevotte nearly made it a 3-0 game late when she drilled a shot towards the left post. Dederick made a nice diving stop and then denied the follow on the rebound from freshman Lauren Marin. The play resulted in a corner kick, essentially clinching the win for the Pilots.
 
Portland finished with 10 shots, six of which were on-target. Five of WSU's 14 shots were on-goal, and Portland junior goalkeeper Hanna de Haan was solid, finishing with five saves for her first blank sheet of the year.
 
In the 11th minute, de Haan made a stellar one-handed save on a shot from Cara Wegner, who had snuck behind the Portland backline. De Haan just did get a touch on it, sending the shot wide of the left post.
 
The Pilots next play their final non-conference game of the season when they travel to Denver, Colo., to face the Denver Pioneers on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. (Pacific).