NEWBERG, Ore. – Three first-half goals, including a gift "own goal" for their first score, proved to be more than enough for the visiting Whitworth University Pirates as they posted a 3-0 win over the George Fox University Bruins in a Northwest Conference women's soccer match Sunday afternoon here at the Austin Sports Complex.

Whitworth got its first goal 15 minutes in when Molly Moore sent a cross from the left to the penalty box for Sarah Berentson.  The Bruins' Kassi Vanderkwaak tried to clear the pass but had the ball deflect off her foot into the net for an "own goal".

The Pirates made it 2-0 five minutes later when Carly Schilperoort intercepted a cleared ball by the Bruins and sent a shot from 25 yards out back to the goal and just under the crossbar for her first score of the season.  Schilperoort hit Berentson coming through the left side of the box with a free kick five minutes later, and Berentson headed it home for an insurmountable 3-0 Whitworth lead.

The Pirate defense held the Bruins without a shot in the first half and to seven shots in the second.  The only shot on goal the Bruins managed was by Esther Harder with two minutes left in the game, and Whitworth keeper Karina Carpenter stopped that one.  Callie Bergstrom got the win in goal for the Pirates by working the first half.  For George Fox, Becka Doyle had five first-half saves but took the loss, and Alyssa Montero had two saves in the second half.

Whitworth took 18 shots in all, 10 on goal, and held a 9-2 advantage in corner kicks.  The Pirates were also whistled for 15 fouls, more than twice as many as the Bruins' seven.

NEXT: After seven straight home games to open the season, George Fox (2-3-2, NWC 1-2) plays on the road for the first time when the Bruins visit Willamette University next Sunday at 12:00 noon … Whitworth (4-3, NWC 2-1) hosts the University of Puget Sound Saturday at 12:00 noon.