Box Score

SALEM, Ore. - A first-half goal by Erich Hangartner and a stellar defensive effort that produced their fifth shutout of the season combined to give the George Fox University Bruins their first Northwest Conference win of the season, a 1-0 victory over the Willamette University Bearcats, in men's soccer action Tuesday night here at Sparks Field.

The Bruins got the only score they would need at the 29:47 mark in the first half as Hangartner took a pass from the right side by Matt Gurlides and shot it home from 10 yards out past Bearcat keeper Mark Bennett. It was the first goal of the season for Hangartner and second assist by Gurlides.

George Fox controlled the game offensively, out-shooting Willamette 29-18 and earning eight corner kicks to one for the home team. The Bruins lead the league by a wide margin in shots (179, 52 more than runner-up Linfield College) and corner kicks (53 to 35 for Linfield), and they edged ahead of Linfield for most points this season, 51-49 (17 goals, 17 assists). Twelve of the Bruins' shots at Willamette were on goal, but they were unable to penetrate the net again as Bennett made 11 saves.

The Bruin defense came through in the clutch to preserve the win, though, forcing the Bearcats to take most of their shots from far away. Only four of the home team's 18 shots were on goal, all stopped by Bruin goalie Jake Maguire, who improved to 4-1-1.

George Fox (5-3-1, NWC 1-3), which snapped a three-game losing streak, welcomes Pacific University for a 2:30 p.m. conference contest Saturday, which will be preceded by the women's NWC match at 12 noon. Willamette (1-7-1, NWC 0-3-1), which lost its third in a row, entertains Linfield College Saturday at 2:30 p.m.