FOREST GROVE, Ore. - Multnomah kicked off their season with a huge win on the road against NCAA Division III side Pacific University. Friday night's matchup saw both sides battle it out in the sweltering heat for 90 minutes, which ultimately saw the Lions come away with the victory, winning 2-0.

"This is exactly how I expect this team to compete," shared Lions' Head Coach Dalon Parker following Friday night's win. "We needed some time to settle into the game in the first half, but from that point on I feel like we dictated the tempo and were really effective going forward. I'm confident that this group can achieve great things this season, and tonight's result is a step in the right direction."

In their first competitive match of the season, the Lions (1-0, 0-0 CCC) entered tonight's matchup against a well-organized program in Pacific University (0-1, 0-0 NWC), who made things difficult for Multnomah early in the first half. Both teams used the early stages of the game to feel each other out, looking for opportunities to break the deadlock. After a tightly contested first 27 minutes, Multnomah forward Paige Nguyen scored her first goal for the Lions, capping off an excellent counter attacking sequence. Nguyen was able to cut in and place her shot into the top left corner of the goal after managing to get on the end of a cross from Yesenia Lawson. 

Just four minutes later, Multnomah was able to double their advantage through midfielder Megan Castricum, who rocketed her shot past the outstretched hands of the Pacific goalkeeper from nearly 30 yards out. Castricum's goal would hold to be the game-winner, despite numerous chances that Multnomah had throughout the remainder of the game. The Lions were continuously a threat on the counter attack and on set pieces, but were unable to convert those chances into goals by the time the final whistle blew.

On the defensive side, Jennifer Alvillar came up big in net for the Lions posting multiple big saves, including a penalty that was awarded in the 67th minute for a handball against one of Multnomah's defenders. Friday night's game was also Alvillar's first clean sheet of her Multnomah career, after having sat out the 2023-24 season.

Next up for the Lions is a trip to McMinnville, Oregon, as they take on Linfield University tomorrow at 11:00 am, before finishing off the weekend away against George Fox University on Sunday at 12:00 pm.