GEORGE FOX 4, WARNER PACIFIC 0: Bruins Daze Knights for Initial Win of New Season
NEWBERG, Ore. - Jordyn Brennerman and Melanie Gaither each collected four points, Brennerman on two goals and Gaither on a goal and two assists, as the George Fox University Bruins picked up their first win of the new women’s soccer season 4-0 over the Warner Pacific College Knights in a non-conference match Sunday afternoon here at the Austin Sports Complex.
Brennerman, a freshman forward, gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead with her first collegiate goal 30 minutes into the game, sending a perfectly-executed cross from the left by Gaither into the middle of the net from 12 yards out. That lead held up through the rest of the half as the Bruin defense limited the Knights to one shot in the period.
Gaither made it 2-0 at 46:22 early in the second half by sending in a shot from 15 yards out near the left side of the box inside the far post past Warner Pacific keeper Erin Lloyd, who had stepped out to challenge her on a breakway. It was the first goal of the season for the All-Northwest Conference senior forward and the 13th of her career, moving her into 12th on the Bruins’ all-time list. Michelle Young got the assist by feeding Gaither, who outraced the defense to get open.
Two-and-a-half minutes later, Young picked her own first career goal by sending a 20-yard indirect free kick richoceting off the right post and into the net. Brennerman closed out the scoring with her second goal at the 57:34 mark, nailing a 10-yarder to the upper right corner after a short pass by Jenna Prewitt to Gaither, who flicked it over to Brennerman for the score.
George Fox keepers Alyssa Montero in 79 minutes and Brittany Coulter in 11 shared the shutout, with Montero making four saves on all the Knights’ shots on goal; they had seven total shots. The Bruins took 20 shots, nine on goal, with Lloyd stopping five of them. Each team had two corners, while the Knights committed 10 fouls to eight for the Bruins.
NEXT: George Fox (1-1-2) begins conference play Wednesday with a 7:00 p.m. night game at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore. ... Warner Pacific (0-5) hosts Trinity Lutheran College Saturday at 5:00 p.m. at David Douglas High School.