WALLA WALLA, Wash. – For the second year in a row, the George Fox University Bruins established a new school record for ties in a season with their fifth of 2011, a 1-1 double-overtime deadlock with the Whitman College Missionaries in Northwest Conference women's soccer action Sunday afternoon here at the Whitman Athletic Fields.

George Fox is now 2-9-5 overall and 2-7-3 in conference play, eclipsing last year's record for ties when the Bruins went 5-11-4.  Whitman saw its record go to 6-9-2 overall and 4-7-2 in the league.

Despite being out-shot 13-1 in a scoreless first half, it was the Bruins who finally broke through to score early in the second half.  Melanie Gaither, the Bruins' leading scorer, got free at the top of the penalty box and sent a left-footed shot to the far upper corner for her eighth goal of the year at the 47:20 mark.

The Missionaries knotted the score at 62:19.  MacKenzie Hughes sent a cross in from the left side, and Amy Hasson slid in to deflect the ball into the net for her 13th score of the season. 

The game remained scoreless the rest of the way.  Whitman had a chance to win it in the final minute of regulation, but Jaclyn Rudd's shot hit the crossbar and bounced back onto the field.  In the overtimes, the Missionaries out-shot the Bruins 9-2, but George Fox goalkeeper Alyssa Montero made two of her six saves in the game during the final 20 minutes to preserve the tie.

Whitman finished with a 30-9 advantage in shots, 7-3 in shots on goal, and 9-1 in corner kicks, but the Bruins answered almost every charge.  Emily Davis had two saves in goal for the Missionaries.

NEXT: George Fox plays three of its final four matches at home, starting with a 12:00 noon game against Willamette University on Saturday at the Austin Sports Complex ... Whitman hosts Lewis & Clark College Saturday, also at noon.