Box Score

NEWBERG, Wash. - Goalie Eben Hellekson of Willamette University stopped a potential go-ahead penalty kick in the 67th minute and teammate Erik Kaufman scored the winning goal 11 minutes later, lifting the visiting Bearcats to a 3-2 win over the George Fox University Bruins in a back-and-forth Northwest Conference men's soccer match Saturday afternoon here at Morse Field.

Willamette got on the board first when the Bruins were whistled for a handball in the keeper's box and Casey Dineen converted the penalty kick to the left corner 10:54 into the game, his second goal of the season.  The Bruin tied it at 39:19 when Fidel Izquierdo nailed his fifth goal, a 10-yarder from the left side of the box inside the far post, after a sizzling cross from the right of the box by Brennan Altringer. 

George Fox took its first lead of the day early in the second half with a rare goalkeeper assist.  Elliott Davis  launched a ball from the goal mouth well past the midfield stripe toward the right side of the field, where Altringer gathered it in on a dead run, raced to the right corner of the box, and drilled a shot from 20 yards away inside the far post.  It was his fourth score of the year.  The Bearcats retied it at 63:05 when Brendan Dineen notched his first goal from the left side of the box to the far post after a pass from Kaufman.

Hellekson had started the game for the Bearcats but was forced to the sideline 15 minutes in after suffering a severe cut under his right eye in a massive pileup in front of the goal.  Bradley Eckerson replaced him, but after getting patched up, Hellekson returned for the second half and made the play of the game.  The Bruins appeared poised to regain the lead in the 67th minute when Geoffrey Wacker was fouled inside the box and received a penalty kick.  Hellekson anticipated a shot to his left and dove that way as Wacker drove the ball toward the upper right corner, deflecting the shot outside the post and maintaining the tie. 

Willamette then scored the deciding goal at 78:25 when Pete Kline sent a long pass from the right side to Kaufman just outside the keeper's box at the midpoint of the line.  The ball popped free and Davis came out to try to secure it, but Kaufman beat him to it and chipped the ball over his head, where it had a clear path to roll into the net.  It was his second goal of the season.

The Bruins had two more shots at another tie, but Hellekson saved one good shot by Izquierdo and another try by Altringer sailed high.  The Bearcats spent most of the final 11 minutes sending every ball they reached as far down the field as they could kick it.  Davis had two saves for the Bruins, while Hellekson had four and Eckerson two for the Bearcats.  George Fox took 18 shots, eight on goal, while Willamette took 10, half on goal. 

George Fox (3-5, NWC 0-3) hosts Linfield College and Willamette (2-6, NWC 1-2) visits Pacific University Sunday for conference games, both starting at 2:30 p.m.