THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - In the previous 20 meetings between Whittier and Cal Lutheran the Poets have managed only four goals. All that changed on Saturday morning as the purple and gold scored five goals and held off their Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foe, 5-4.

The Poets (3-4, 2-2 SCIAC) last beat CLU on November 6, 2002. Whittier won that affair in overtime, 1-0. Whittier was 1-19 against Cal Lu in the last 20 meetings prior to today's matchup.

It didn't take long for the Poets to score in this game as Adolfo Santos scored an unassisted goal at the 6:21 mark. Whittier built its lead to 2-0 in the 11th minute on Kevin Hartsough's second goal of the season.

Cal Lutheran (3-5, 2-2 SCIAC) seized control over the next 50 minutes of the game as they scored three consecutive goals to hold a 3-0 lead at the 59:23 mark.

Ryan McDermott cashed in on the first two scores on assists from John Barley and Brennen Hodge, respectively, and Raul Yepez finished a Kunimitsu Matsuo feed for the one-goal advantage.

Santos evened the score for Whittier just eight minutes laster with a goal on a feed from DJ Covarrubias. Covarrubias played a ball that allowed Santos to make a nice run up the middle of the field for the equalizer.

Patricio Carregha gave Whittier its first lead since the 53:28 mark with a penalty kick in the 72nd minute.

The Kingsmen tied the score at 76:21 on a free kick but just two minutes later Shea Harwell put back a rebound for the would-be game winner.

Whittier totaled 14 shots and put nine on goal. Cal Lutheran had 19 shots for the game and put seven on goal. Michael Read played all 90 minutes between the pipes and came away with three saves.

The Poets led 2-1 at the half.

Whittier has now ended two long losing streaks to SCIAC opponents this season. Earlier this year WC beat Redlands, 2-1, in overtime to snap a 21-game losing skid.

The Poets return to action on Wednesday, September 30, as they hit the road to face Claremont-M-S at 4 pm.