PARKLAND, WA --Brendan Ward headed home Cody Pillon's corner kick with 2:18 remaining in the second overtime to give the visiting UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs a hard-fought 1-0 men's soccer victory over the host Pacific Lutheran Lutes on Thursday afternoon. 

Ward spun away from his defender to the far side of the goal and firmly met Pillon's driven ball, blasting it past Lutes goalkeeper Brian Kostol and into the net. The goal ended a well-played and entertaining game between the two NCAA Division III West Region opponents. 

Both teams had a number of good scoring opportunities during regulation and again through the first overtime period. PLU forward Spencer Augustin headed straight at UCSC goalkeeper Matt Pereira in the waning minutes of regulation, and Alika Okamitsu sent a wide-open header over the crossbar inside the final minute of the first overtime period. 

The Banana Slugs (2-0) took 16 shots in the game and put give of them on goal, while the Lutes finished with 13 shots, including five on goal. Kostol finished the game with five saves for PLU while Pereira registered five in the UCSC goal. Corner kicks were even at three apiece.