Box Score

NEWBERG, Ore. - In a match-up of two of the highest-scoring teams in the Northwest Conference, it was defense that carried the day as the Whitman College Missionaries finally broke through for a late goal to edge the George Fox University Bruins 1-0 in a men's soccer battle Saturday afternoon here at Morse Field.

Whitman entered the contest second in the league in goals (22) and points (58), while George Fox was third in goals (13) and points (39). For over 74 minutes, however, both teams turned away the other's best offensive efforts.

The Missionaries out-shot the Bruins 9-2 in the first half, denying the Bruins any shots on goal while getting five on goal of their own. George Fox keeper Kyle Putnam swapped them all away, including a catch of a booming line drive by Andy Huntington, the league's leading scorer with 15 points, early in the game.

The Bruins had their best chance to score at the 58-minute mark when Matt Gurlides sent a cross from the right corner to Garrett Blizzard about eight yards from the near post. Blizzard headed a sharp shot toward the crossbar, but Whitman keeper Brett Axelrod leaped high into the air for a spectacular catch.

The Missionaries finally took advantage of a Bruin foul to score. Craig Yuen was give a free kick from the left corner following the foul, and he sent a ball to the far post for Matt Manley, whose shot hit the crossbar and angled down and back across the goal line for the game's only score at 74:35. It was Manley's second goal of the season. The Whitman defense then ran out the clock, preventing the Bruins from getting another shot thereafter.

Putnam finished with nine saves while Axelrod had three. Whitman out-shot George Fox 16-6 (10-3 in shots on goal), and held a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.

George Fox (3-5, NWC 1-2) hosts Whitworth University and Whitman (5-3, NWC 2-1) visits Willamette University Sunday, both games beginning at 2:30 p.m.