LINFIELD 1, GEORGE FOX 0: Bruins Slow but Can’t Stop Wildcats’ Drive for NWC Title

NEWBERG, Ore. – In one of their best defensive efforts of the season, the George Fox University Bruins slowed but could not stop the Linfield College Wildcats, who got a second-half goal for a 1-0 win and maintained a share of first place in the Northwest Conference women’s soccer race Saturday afternoon here at the Austin Sports Complex.

With the win, Linfield (14-1-2, NWC 10-1-2) remained tied with Whitworth University, a 2-1 winner Saturday at Willamette University.  George Fox (2-13-2, NWC 1-12) continued its run of tough luck as the Bruins suffered their ninth loss of the season by a single goal.

The last time the two teams met, Linfield out-shot George Fox 33-1 in a 2-0 win in McMinnville, Ore., on Sept. 16.  This time, the Bruins cut the explosive Wildcats’ scoring opportunities by more than half, limiting the visitors to 15 total shots and 10 on goal.  George Fox had more chances than before with five shots, three by Esther Harder, and three on goal, but Linfield keeper Taylor Collinsworth stopped all three to earn the shutout.

Ally Swanson made nine saves in goal for the Bruins, but one shot managed to get through and that proved to be the Bruins’ undoing.  In the 67th minute, a George Fox foul gave Emma Vukic a free kick outside the left side of the penalty box.  Her cross into the middle was headed by a leaping Emily Fellows, who got just enough of the ball to deflect it past Swanson from five yards out for her league-leading 15th goal of the year.

Fellows led the Linfield offense with six shots, four on goal.  The Wildcats also held an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks over their Yamhill County rivals.

NEXT: George Fox continues its season-ending four-game home stand Sunday with the University of Puget Sound at 12:00 noon ... With three games left in the conference season, Linfield takes a seven-game winning streak to Pacific University Sunday at noon as the Wildcats try to move a step closer toward a possible NWC title.