NEWBERG, Ore. – One first-half goal and another in the second half on a penalty kick following a hand ball call in the penalty box lifted the visiting Whitworth University Pirates to a 2-0 victory over the George Fox University Bruins in a Northwest Conference men's soccer match Sunday afternoon here at the Austin Sports Complex.

Justin Mikkola staked the Pirates to a 1-0 lead just over seven minutes into the contest.  A shot by the Pirates' Cameron Bushey was blocked, and the rebound was collected in the left area of the penalty box by Devin Merrill and crossed to the middle to Mikkola, who had an easy five-yard putback for his second goal of the season. 

Bushey picked up his second goal of the year as well almost four minutes into the second half. A hand ball was called on the Bruins on a Whitworth free kick from outside the left corner of the penalty box, and the Pirates were awarded a free try for a score.  Bushey sent his shot into the lower left corner and just out of the reach of George Fox keeper Elliott Davis, who had eight saves to keep the match close.

Whitworth took 19 shots in all and 10 on goal.  The Pirates limited the Bruins to six total shots and only one on goal, that by Jared Angle in the 59th minute, but Whitworth goalie Kyle Novak corralled it to preserve the shutout.  The Pirates also held a 4-1 edge in corner kicks.

NEXT: George Fox (0-4-1, NWC 0-2) visits Willamette University Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ... Whitworth (4-2, NWC 1-1) hosts the University of Puget Sound Saturday at 2:30 p.m. also.