NEWBERG, Ore. - Janece Levien scored two goals and assisted on a third as the 5th-ranked University of Puget Sound Loggers stayed one game ahead of second-place Whitworth University in the Northwest Conference women's soccer race with a 4-0 shutout of the George Fox University Bruins Saturday here at soggy Morse Field.

George Fox fell to 6-11 overall and 3-10 in the conference with its fifth straight loss, all by shutouts.  Puget Sound moved a step closer to the conference crown by improving to 16-1 overall and 13-1 in the league, a game ahead of Whitworth, which won 2-0 at Willamette University.

Levien gave the Loggers a 1-0 lead 12 minutes into the game, taking a cross from the right baseline by Christine Isabella at the near post and sending it toward the left corner of the net.  It was the 18th goal of the season for the conference leader in that category and her sixth game-winning goal, also the most.

The Loggers made it 2-0 at the 31:48 mark when Kelly Anderson put a ball into the middle of the penalty box from the left side of the box for Theresa Henle, who faked her defender twice before spinning and sending it into the right corner.  It was Henle's fifth score of the season.

Levien assisted on the Loggers' final goal of the half with a cross from the right to Rochel Burke, who knocked in her second goal of the season from five yards out at 42:41.  UPS might have had a larger margin if not for two shots that hit the crossbar and rebounded, or six first-half saves by Bruin keeper Becka Doyle.

Puget Sound closed out the scoring early in the second half when Gabrielle Duhl crossed from the left to Levien, who put the ball into the upper right corner from five yards away for her 19th goal.  Along with six assists, the two-time NWC Offensive Player of the Year now has 44 points.

Puget Sound out-shot George Fox 23-8 overall and 13-4 in shots on goal.  Jenny McKinsey led the Bruins with three shots, including two excellent shots on goal, but Logger keeper Kallie Wolfer stopped those along with two others in 70-plus minutes before Katie Wheeler completed the shutout.  Doyle finished with nine saves for the Bruins.

Corner kicks were even at two apiece.  Four fouls were called in the first half, three on George Fox and one on Puget Sound, but the game was officiated tighter in the second half, with 10 fouls whistled on each team.

George Fox visits Lewis & Clark College Sunday at 11:00 a.m.  Puget Sound returns home to host Pacific University Friday at 11:00 a.m. with a chance to clinch no worse than a share of the conference crown.