McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Playing the last 29 minutes of the game a man short, the George Fox University Bruins managed to stay close to Linfield College before a late insurance goal made the final score 3-1 in favor of the home-standing Wildcats in a Northwest Conference men's soccer match Sunday afternoon here at the Linfield soccer field.

Linfield struck quickly in the second meeting of the year between the Yamhill County rivals, Brian DeGrandmont scoring from the left side at 3:26 into the game after Tyler Repic sent him a short pass out of a pack of players in the middle of the box.  The Bruins responded six minutes later when Joel Schierman notched his first goal of the season, dribbling up near the penalty box and firing a high shot into the goal past Linfield keeper Jorge Rodriguez.

DeGrandmont put the home team back on top for good at 32:11 with his eighth goal of the season.  Rhys Lendio sent a cross into the middle from the right side, and DeGrandmont one-touched it home for what would prove to be the game-winner.

In the 62nd minute, George Fox defender Erik Davies was whistled for his second yellow card of the afternoon, forcing the Bruins to play the rest of the way with only 10 men on the field.  The visitors were up to the task for 22 minutes until the Wildcats got some breathing room on a score by Nicholas Autencio at the 83:16 mark.  Repic dribbled up from the left side and passed to Autencio on the right, and he sent the ball inside the right post to complete the scoring.

Linfield held a 23-7 advantage in shots, 10-4 in shots on goal, and 5-2 in corner kicks.  Repic led the 'Cats with five shots, while Schierman, Luke Hammer, and Sawyer Meek had two tries each for the Bruins.

Rodriguez earned the win in goal by making three saves for Linfield, which swept the two-game season series with the Bruins.  George Fox keeper Luke Ridder made seven saves on the day.

NEXT: George Fox (1-14, NWC 0-9) hosts the eastern Washington teams this weekend, starting with Whitman College Saturday at 2:30 p.m. … Linfield (8-4-1, NWC 5-3-1) welcomes in the Tacoma-area teams, entertaining the University of Puget Sound Saturday at 2:30 p.m.