Box Score

EUGENE, Ore. – Setting a new school record for the most wins ever to start a season, the George Fox University Bruins improved to 4-0 with a 2-0 victory over the Northwest Christian University Beacons in a non-conference women's soccer match Tuesday night here at the NWC Soccer Field.

The Bruins eclipsed the previous record of three wins to open a season, accomplished three other times in 1997, 1998, and 1999. Their four straight shutouts is also a new record for any point in a season, never having put more than two together at any previous time.   

The Bruins first got on the board at 15:20 in the first half on a breakaway play. Kirsten Cardwell was one-on-one with Beacon keeper Katelyn Nistler, who came out from the goalie box to make a remarkable diving save on Cardwell's shot. The ball, however, deflected to the waiting feet of Molly Schaefer, who gathered the ball and punched it into an empty net for her first goal of the season.

George Fox struck again three-and-a-half minutes later as the offense penetrated the Beacons' back line and Anna Russell slotted a perfect left-to-right pass through the box to Cardwell, who then shot the ball back to the left past a diving Nistler for the insurance score.  It was Cardwell's first goal of the year.

NCU held GFU scoreless from that point on as Nistler collected 11 saves, but it was more than enough as the Bruin defense held the Beacons to five total shots and just three shots on goal, the latter all in the first half.  Becka Doyle had three saves as the Bruins' keeper in the first game of her college career.  The Bruins also held a decided 7-0 advantage in corner kicks.

George Fox (4-0) will try to keep its winning streak going Friday night when the Bruins open Northwest Conference play at Lewis & Clark College in Portland.  Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.  Northwest Christian (3-5) begins Cascade Collegiate Conference play Thursday with a trip to Corban College, game time at 7:30 p.m.