NEWBERG, Ore. – In a prime example of the axiom that statistics do not always tell the whole story, the Linfield College Wildcats and the George Fox University Bruins posted remarkably-similar numbers in almost every category, but the Wildcats finished better for a 3-0 Northwest Conference men's soccer win Sunday afternoon here at the Austin Sports Complex.

Total shots were dead-even between the Yamhill County rivals at 19 apiece, with the Wildcats getting one more shot on goal, 8-7.  Corner kick chances were also equal with four apiece.  George Fox was whistled for more fouls, 16-11, but Linfield was nailed for more offsides, 2-1.  Each team had two yellow cards.

Through the first quarter of the game, it was the Bruins who controlled play and had the best scoring opportunities, out-shooting the Wildcats 7-2 but failing to capitalize on any of their shots.  Linfield keeper Grant Loriaux made diving stops on liners by Angelo Florez toward the far left corner and Luke Hammer toward the near right post to stymie the Bruins' best scoring chances.

The visiting Wildcats then seized the advantage with a pair of goals in the space of two minutes.  The first came at the 25:50 mark when Jake Baker drove down the right side of the keeper's box and crossed to the center for Domenico Del Prete, who lined his fourth goal of the season to the middle of the net.

Two minutes later, the Wildcats upped the ante with an unassisted goal by Tyler Repic, who dribbled in from the upper left corner of the box, weaved through a trio of defenders, and finished just inside the far post.  It was his first score of the season.

Linfield added a final goal at 68:48 in the second period.  Repic, just outside the left side of the box, hit a low liner toward the near post, and as George Fox keeper Luis Angel Del Rio moved to intercept, Baker deflected the shot toward the right post, where it hit and ricocheted into the net.

Del Rio finished with five saves for the Bruins, while Loriaux had seven saves in posting the shutout for the Wildcats.

NEXT: George Fox (2-11-1, NWC 2-7) makes the eastern Washington swing next weekend, starting with Whitman College in Walla Walla on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.  It will be part of a conference doubleheader, with the women's teams squaring off at 12:00 noon ... Linfield (6-7, NWC 4-5) visits the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash., on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.