Box Score

WALLA WALLA, Wash. - Bringing head coach Tim Tsohantaridis's first year in his second tour of duty with the George Fox University men's soccer program to a heartbreaking conclusion, the visiting Bruins dropped a 1-0 decision to the Whitman College Missionaries in a Northwest Conference men's soccer match Saturday afternoon here at the Whitman Athletic Fields.

Stephen Phillips booted in the game's only goal, his eighth of the year, at 10:33 in the first half, finding the net from 15 yards out after collecting a cross from Jason Shon. Whitman peppered Bruin keeper Danny Kamna with 14 shots in each half, but the rookie made a handful of spectacular saves among his total of eight to keep the game close. 

At the other end of the field, Whitman keeper Brett Axelrod needed to make just one first-half save to post his NWC-best 10th shutout of the season. The Missionaries out-shot the Bruins 28-6 in total shots in the game, 9-1 in shots on goal, and had a 9-2 advantage in corner kicks.

George Fox, in suffering its eighth straight loss, fell to 2-15-3 overall and finished ninth in the conference at 1-11-2.  It was the first losing season ever for Tsohantaridis, who guided the Bruins to a 50-23-4 record in his first stint as head coach from 1986-89.  Whitman ended the regular season at 11-2-7 and in second place in the conference at 9-2-3. 

The Missionaries fell just short of a NWC title when Whitworth University got past Pacific University 3-0 Saturday in Spokane to capture the conference crown, finishing with a 10-2-2 NWC record and 32 points, just two points in front of Whitman's 30.  The Pirates get an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III National Tournament while the Missionaries are left hoping for an at-large bid on Sunday.