GEORGE FOX 1, LINFIELD 1: Bruins and Wildcats Scratch thru Two Overtimes to Tie

McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Doing the same thing by the same score as their female counterparts earlier in the day in Newberg, the visiting George Fox University Bruins and the Linfield College Wildcats fought through two overtime periods before settling for a 1-1 tie in Northwest Conference men’s soccer action Saturday afternoon here at the Linfield soccer field.

Linfield had plenty of scoring opportunities in the first period, out-shooting George Fox 7-1, but could not convert. The offense was more even in the second half when each team scored a goal, George Fox taking six shots to five for the Wildcats.

The home team got on the board first as Xavier Reed made the most of his Wildcat debut, scoring his first career goal in the 48th minute. He beat Bruin keeper Elliott Davis to the ball on the left side of the goal and sliced it into the net to put the Wildcats up 1-0.

Bruin forward Luke Hammer provided the answering goal for George Fox in the 66th minute when he got past the Linfield defense and put up a shot that hit the crossbar and angled down into the goal.  It was the freshman’s team-leading fourth goal of the season.

The Wildcats tried to prevent the game from going into overtime, firing four shots over the final ten minutes of regulation, but two shots sailed wide and Davis made a pair of saves to extend the game.  In the two extra periods, Linfield out-shot George Fox 7-0 but put only two on goal, Davis making the save on both to finish with seven overall.  Wildcat goalie Cody Tipton made four saves.

NEXT:  George Fox (2-4-1, NWC 0-2-1) will be out to snap a 19-game winless streak in conference play when the Bruins visit Willamette University Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ... Linfield (1-4-1, NWC 0-2-1) hosts Pacific University Sunday at 2:30 p.m.