PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Loyola Marymount Lions scored twice in the first half to put the Portland Pilots in an early hole before prevailing 3-0 in a West Coast Conference women's soccer game played on Sunday afternoon at Merlo Field. The loss ends a string of three straight shutouts for the Pilots.
 
LMU's (7-2-3, 2-0-0 WCC) first goal came off the foot of Pilar Torres, and it came in the 12th minute after Portland (6-3-3, 0-1-1 WCC) had gone 350 consecutive minutes without allowing an opponent to find the back of the net. Torres received a pass from Bolden, took a touch, and cracked one into the top shelf from 25 yards out, handing the visitors a 1-0 lead.
 
The Pilots responded quickly and nearly claimed the equalizer a minute later when a corner from Allison Wetherington found the head of Devlyn Jeter in the center of the box. But Jeter's header was just wide. Hannah Griffiths Boston followed with a similar header in the 22nd minute, but again it was sent wide as the game remained 1-0 in LMU's favor.
 
The Lions then pushed their lead to 2-0 on Sarina Bolden's team-best fifth goal of the year on a free kick in the 31st minute. Maddie Medved sent a ball in that took a bounce before finding the feet of Bolden, right in front of the Portland frame. And the sophomore forward did the rest, putting it away into the left corner of the net.
 
Moments later, Maddie Dieker tried to pull one back from the Pilots. She gained possession near the top of the box, turned and hit a well-struck shot towards the right post. But LMU goalkeeper Charlee Pruitt was there to make the diving stop, preserving the Lions' lead.
 
The Pilots then controlled possession for much of the second half, trying to climb back into the game. In the 71st minute on a perfect ball played into the area, Kaycie Young hit the crossbar with a shot from about six yards out.
 
Larkin Russell then hit a quality shot in the 78th minute that was high, and Griffiths Boston went first-time with a difficult shot from point blank range that was saved by Pruitt.
 
But the Lions would hold on for the win after adding a PK in the second half, scored by Medved.
 
Pruitt finished the day with three saves, while Portland sophomore keeper Rachel Lusby countered with four.
 
The Pilots will next head to Spokane, Wash., next Saturday for a WCC match against the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Luger Field.