Box
Score
FOREST GROVE, Ore. - Securing their first winning season since
1999, the Pacific University Boxers got a goal in each half and
blanked the George Fox University Bruins 2-0 in a very physical
Northwest Conference men's soccer match Sunday afternoon here at
Tom Reynolds Field.
The Bruins found their offense limited early when starting
forward Garrett Blizzard left the game in the sixth minute after a
collision with the Boxers' Ricky Shinn that resulted in a yellow
card against the Pacific player. Blizzard did not return to the
contest due to the injury, which was a low light in a contest that
saw 49 fouls called and seven cautions issued between the two
sides.
Matt McDonough, the third-leading scorer in the conference,
notched his 10th goal of the season in the 25th minute for a 1-0
Pacific lead. After Brandon Porter put a ball into the box off a
free kick, Shinn redirected it to McDonougb, who crossed the ball
past Bruin goalie Jake Maguire into the net.
Pacific capitalized on the physical play in the 65th minute of
the second half for an insurance goal, receiving a free kick after
the Bruins' Brian Zaro was sent off with his second yellow card.
Jared Komo sent a 30-yard free kick in to Kyle Chown, who placed
the ball right at the goal line for Sean Healy, who sent the ball
across the line for his first goal of the season.
George Fox out-shot Pacific 9-7 overall and held slight
advantages of 5-4 in shots on goal and 5-3 in corner kicks. Jory
Shene picked up his sixth shutout of the season, making five saves
for the Boxers, while Maguire finished with two stops in goal for
the Bruins.
The Bruins fell to 7-8-2 overall and 3-8-1 in the NWC, while the
Boxers improved to 9-5-1 overall and 6-5-1 in the league. Pacific
is assured of its first winning season since going 10-8-2 in 1999.
Both teams conclude the season with home games next weekend,
George Fox hosting Linfield College Friday and the University of
Puget Sound Saturday while Pacific entertains Puget Sound Friday
and Willamette University Saturday. All four games begin at 1:30
p.m.
