Box Score

NEWBERG, Ore. - Jenny McKinsey set a new George Fox University record for career assists with her 19th on the only score of the game by Kirsten Cardwell, enabling the Bruins to pick up their first Northwest Conference women's soccer victory of the season 1-0 over the Willamette University Bearcats Sunday afternoon here at Morse Field.

In a tight defensive struggle that saw each team earn only four shots on goal apiece, it was the Bruins who broke through in the 39th minute of the first half.  McKinsey drove into the right corner of the keeper's box and drilled a shot toward the far post that diving goalie Kelli Gano managed to deflect.  The rebound went right to Cardwell coming in from the left, who promptly put the ball inside the near post for her sixth goal of the season.

McKinsey's assists record came in only three seasons with the Bruins; she played as a freshman at Pacific Lutheran University.  The old record of 18 was held by Karli Holub, who also took only three seasons (1998-2000) to establish the previous mark. 

Bidding to tie the score, the Bearcats took 10 shots in the second half, but Bruin keeper Becka Doyle stopped the only two that were on goal.  Willamette had a golden opportunity to knot the game on a header by Alex Batzer with 1:13 left to play, but the shot hit the crossbar and bounded out of bounds.

Doyle finished with four saves in the shutout, while Gano had two saves in the first half and Jill Scneeman one in the second period.  Willamette out-shot George Fox 16-8 in all, with the teams even in the corner kicks at three each.

Both teams play again Saturday, George Fox (4-4, NWC 1-3) hosting Lewis & Clark College and Willamette (3-4-1, NWC 2-2) visiting Whitman College.