Box Score

NEWBERG, Ore. - Keeping alive their Northwest Conference title hopes, the Pacific Lutheran University Lutes used two late insurance goals to fight off a spirited second-half comeback attempt by the George Fox University Bruins and hang on for a 5-3 win in a high-scoring men's soccer game Sunday afternoon here at Morse Field.

The Lutes, who entered the game five points behind league-leading Whitworth University in third place in the conference standings, appeared to have things well in hand after scoring three quick goals in the game's first 19 minutes. Erik Gracey assisted the league's leading scorer, Mike Ferguson, on similar goals at the 2:45 and 17:33 marks, both times passing on the run from the right side to Ferguson coming down the center, who then out-maneuvered goalkeeper Kyle Putnam for clear shots to the net. They were the ninth and 10th goals of the season for Ferguson. Gracey then got a goal of his own, his fourth, with an assist from Henrick Oiseth at 18:19, and the Lutes took a 3-0 lead into the break.

The Bruins bounced back to make a game of it in the second half, starting with Carlos Pehr's fourth goal of the season at 54:38. Brian Story took a shot from the left side of the penalty box that was slightly deflected by a PLU defender into the crossbar, and the rebound went straight to Pehr coming in from the right for an easy header inside the near post. Fifteen minutes later, at 69:18, Pehr sent a corner kick from the left to the far side of the box, Story headed it back into the middle, and Erich Hangartner slid in to boot the ball into the net for his second goal of the year, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

PLU picked up some breathing room - and needed it, as it turned out - with two quick strikes in the final 10 minutes. Gracey tried to head in a corner kick that was deflected by a Bruin defender, and the free ball was gathered in by Derek MacLean and punched into the net at 82:53 for his second score of the season. Just over two minutes later, at 85:09, Gracey picked up his fourth assist of the game with a pass from the center to Thomas Pedersen on the left side of the box, and he angled a shot into the far corner for his first goal of the year.

The Bruins were not done yet, however. Peter Luginbill lofted a pass from the top of the box toward the right post, and Hangartner went high to head in his second goal of the game and third of the season at 86:22, making it 5-3, but the Bruins were unable to cut into the margin again before time expired.

George Fox held a one-shot overall edge, 13-12, though PLU got better looks with a 10-6 margin in shots on goal. The Lutes also held a 6-3 advantage in corners. Putnam made four saves for the Bruins, while Daniel Mangum had two saves in 75 minutes and Brian Kostol had one in 15 minutes for the Lutes.

George Fox (3-9-2, NWC 1-6-2) visits Whitworth University Saturday for a 12:00 noon contest. Pacific Lutheran (8-5-1, NWC 6-1-1) hosts second-place University of Puget Sound, ranked 13th in the NSCAA national poll and 11th by D3kicks.com, Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. in a crucial battle to stay in the NWC race.