GEORGE FOX 0, NORTHWEST 0: Bruins and Eagles Play to Scoreless Tie in Opener

NEWBERG, Ore. - In the first women's soccer game at the new Austin Sports Complex and the first night soccer game ever on the George Fox University campus, the host Bruins and the Northwest University Eagles battled to a 0-0 tie in a non-conference match before a near-capacity crowd estimated at 650 here Thursday evening.

It was the season opener for both teams. With Northwest scheduled again Friday night at Lewis & Clark College, coaches Andy Hetherington of George Fox and Erin Redwine of Northwest agreed to forego any overtimes, so the contest was halted at the end of the regulation 90 minutes.

The Eagles out-shot the Bruins 22-7 overall and 7-1 in shots on goal, but most of the shots were fairly routine for the keepers. Jordan Holmes stopped the only good George Fox shot by Nicole Akiu early in the second half, while Bruin keepers Becka Doyle with three saves in the first half and Alyssa Montero with four stops in the second half preserved the shutout for the home crew.

Abby Brauer led Northwest with seven shots while Esther Harder had three of George Fox's attempts to score. The corner kicks were even at four apiece.

Dedication ceremonies for the facility were held prior to the women's game and followed a George Fox afternoon men's game against the Oregon Institute of Technology. The complex is named for local philanthropists Ken and Joan Austin, who donated the land on which the field sits to the university for the purpose of Bruin sports development.

George Fox (0-0-1) returns to action Saturday night, hosting Warner Pacific College at 7:00 p.m. Northwest (0-0-1) and Lewis & Clark square off Friday, also at 7:00 p.m.