Box Score

NEWBERG, Ore. - Midfielder Kirsten Cardwell and forward Jenny McKinsey scored two goals apiece and the George Fox University Bruins needed every one of them in taking a hard-fought come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Pacific Lutheran University Lutes in a Northwest Conference women's soccer match Sunday here at Morse Field.

The scoring came in clusters in the first half, the Lutes scoring twice with the Bruins answering two-and-a-half minutes later each time.  Jordan Daniels started things off with a header inside the far post at 21:19 after a corner kick from the right by Kristina Snaring.  It was Daniels' second score of the season and gave the Lutes an early 1-0 lead.  The Bruins tied it at 23:48 when McKinsey drove into the right side of the penalty box and crossed to Cardwell, who had an easy tap-in as the defense had been drawn away by McKinsey's run.

PLU regained the lead when Snaring sent another corner kick from the right into the box which was headed away by the Bruins' Kayla Corn - but not far enough.  Brittney Bronson intercepted the ball and rocketed a shot into the upper right corner at 29:14 for her first goal of the season and a 2-1 PLU lead.  The Bruins knotted it again at 31:36 when McKinsey sent a darter inside the near post after a well-placed cross from the right baseline by Cardwell. 

George Fox finally took the lead for good at 48:01 in the second period with a goal than wasn't meant to be one.  McKinsey made a run with the ball down the right sideline and turned along the baseline, then tried to cross the ball into the middle, but it rolled untouched across the mouth of the goal and nestled into the far side of the net about a foot inside the post for her 12th score of the year. 

The Bruins made it 4-2 at 52:17 when Sophia De Graff sent a short pass to Cardwell in the midst of a scrum in front of the net and she tapped it in for her eighth goal.  That goal turned out to be critical when the Lutes' Karli Hurlbut scored inside the near post at 64:55 off a cross from the right by Snaring, making it 4-3.  It was Hurlbut's third goal of the season and Snaring's third assist of the game.

The Lutes had four more shots at tying the game thereafter, but one was saved by Bruin keeper Sally Page, who had six saves in the game, another was blocked, and two were wide.  George Fox finished the game with a 19-15 edge in shots, while the shots on goal were even at nine apiece.  PLU keeper Kamryn Morgan tallied five saves.

George Fox (12-6, NWC 8-6) equaled its wins total of last year, the most wins in coach Andy Hetherington's seven seasons with the team, and will try to top it as they conclude the season next weekend in eastern Washington.  The Bruins will take on Whitworth University Friday at 11:00 a.m. and Whitman College Sunday at 12:00 noon.  The Whitman game has been moved back an hour from its originally-scheduled time to allow some Whitman players to finish their GRE exams.  Pacific Lutheran (4-10-3, NWC 3-9-2) next hosts Linfield College Friday at 11:00 a.m.