EAST GRAND FORKS, Minn. --- Portland sophomore Taryn Ries found the back of the net for the fifth straight game and Rachel Lusby made six saves as the Pilots overcame a brutal day of travel to shutout the North Dakota Fighting Hawks 1-0 on Friday at East Grand Forks High School. Ries now has six goals in the last five matches, while it's the second straight clean sheet for the Pilots and a conference-best fifth on the year.
 
Ries' goal came in the 68th minute, and it was off a corner sent in by Larkin Russell. Near the top of the six-yard box, Ries deposited one past the keeper to hand the visiting side a 1-0 lead. Russell claims the assist, and the goal would prove to be the difference.
 
From there the Fighting Hawks (6-2-1) searched for the equalizer, but the Pilots (6-4-0) were solid defensively and Lusby came through with a save in the 85th minute, and she preserved the shutout with back-to-back stops in the 86th minute.
 
The Pilots came into the game tops in the West Coast Conference in both fewest goals allowed, conceding just seven on the year, and goals against average, which they lowered to 0.70 On Friday.
 
After a long day of travel to get to North Dakota on Thursday, the Pilots began the game a little sluggish. But the visitors soon found their legs and attempted five shots and two corners during a six-minute stretch of the first half. Hanna Armendariz sent a shot high in the 21st minute, and she had an attempt blocked moments later.
 
UND goalkeeper Olivia Swenson then saved a shot off the foot of Armendariz in the in the 23rd minute, and Ries hit one in the 30th minute that was also denied by Swenson.
 
Swenson made three saves during the opening 45 minutes, and the Pilots and Fighting Hawks entered the locker room at half tied 0-0, despite Portland claiming a 9-2 edge in shots.
 
The Pilots next return home to host the Seattle U Redhawks at Merlo Field on Sunday. Game time is set for 1 p.m. between the two northwest rivals.