NEWBERG, Ore. – Moving into the George Fox University top 10 in both goals and points, senior forward  Melanie Gaither scored midway through the second half to give the Bruins a 1-0 Northwest Conference women's soccer win over the Lewis & Clark College Pioneers Friday afternoon here at the Austin Sports Complex.

The game was an evenly-played contest, unlike the first meeting between the two on Oct. 7 in Portland when the Pioneers out-shot the Bruins 20-3 en route to a 6-1 romp.  This time, the Pios held only a two-shot advantage of 15-13, and the shots on goal were even at eight apiece.  George Fox had one more corner kick attempt, 7-6, and even the fouls were even with four for each side.

The Bruins got the break they needed in the 70th minute when Gaither and Esther Harder teamed up to push the ball up the field to the edge of the 18-yard penalty box.  Lewis & Clark defender Grace Mehlhaff was joined at that spot by goalkeeper Geena Fong, who had come out high to challenge the run by the Bruin duo.  All four players converged on the ball at practically the same time, and when it popped free, Gatiher was the first to reach it.  With the net completely open, it was a simple two-step dribble and kick for Gaither to finish off her third goal of the season.

Gaither was playing for the first time in over two weeks after suffering a leg injury in the Bruins' game on Oct. 14 against Linfield.  She is now tied for 10th on the Bruins' all-time career lists for goals scored (16) with Emily Atkinson (2003-06) and total points (41) with Julie Alexander (2004-06).

The George Fox defense held sway from then on, with keeper Ally Swanson making seven saves along with one team save.  Fong made six stops in the net for the Pios, along with another team save.

George Fox snapped a five-game losing skid with the victory, improving to 3-14-2 overall and 2-13 in the NWC.  Lewis & Clark, which was picked to finish ninth in the NWC pre-season coaches' poll but has exceeded expectations with a current fourth-place standing, is now 7-8-3 overall and 7-5-3 in the conference.

NEXT: George Fox completes its season Saturday against Pacific Lutheran University at 12:00 noon.  The Bruins will honor their four graduating seniors before the game: Gaither, Harder, Molly Norton, and Corin Beaudry ... Lewis & Clark hosts the league-leading University of Puget Sound with a chance to deny the Loggers, who have a two-point lead over Linfield College and Whitworth University, their 11th straight NWC women's soccer title.