WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Zoe Langsdorf (Soph., Vancouver, Wash.) played both scorer and playmaker Sunday afternoon against Whitman, scoring one goal and assisting on another to lift the Linfield women’s soccer team to a 2-1 victory at the Whitman Athletic Fields.

The Wildcats earned their 13th win of the year, matching a program record with two contests remaining on the 2011 schedule. Even better, the win preserved Linfield’s tie with Puget Sound for first place in the Northwest Conference. The ‘Cats boast a 13-3-2 overall record and a 10-2-2 league mark.

With the loss, Whitman slips to 5-8-2 in conference play, 7-10-2 overall.

The offensively-minded Wildcats only held a 12-9 advantage in shots taken on goal, but clearly made more of their opportunities than Whitman did.

Langsdorf gave the ‘Cats an early lead with a goal in the 33rd minute. Anna Sours (Sr., Jacksonville, Ore.) delivered a pass to Langsdorf, who beat her defenders and shot the ball into the right side of the goal.

Later, the freshman forward helped extend Linfield’s lead with a perfectly-placed corner kick in the 61st minute. Langsdorf crossed the ball to defender Jenna Quiring, who got a head on the pass and directed it into the net.

The importance of that second goal was not fully realized until the late stages of the match, when Whitman trimmed the lead to 2-1 on a penalty kick. Jaclyn Rudd successfully converted the opportunity in the 82nd minute.

Seeing an opportunity to tie the game, the Missionaries attacked the Linfield defense, putting up three shots over the final six minutes. But Wildcat keeper Apolonia Martinez made two game-winning saves, including a crucial one with just 15 seconds remaining, to protect the margin of victory.

Martinez, a first-year starter, earned her 11th win of the year. Whitman keeper Lauren Brougham made two saves, but also allowed both Linfield goals.

‘CAT SCRATCH: Linfield came away from the eastern Washington swing with two wins for the first time since the 2002 season…the Wildcats’ 13 wins match the program single-season record set in both the 2002 and 2010 campaigns.

NEXT: Linfield returns to Oregon for its final road match against Pacific Friday afternoon before hosting Pacific Lutheran in Saturday’s regular-season finale. Both matches are set for a noon start.