NEWBERG, Ore. – Luke Hammer's team-leading fifth goal of the season gave George Fox University an early lead, but the visiting Whitman College Missionaries rallied behind Alex Barsher's two scores to defeat the Bruins 2-1 in a Northwest Conference men's soccer match Saturday afternoon here at the Austin Sports Complex.

Whitman controlled the start of the game, taking six shots before the Bruins got their first try.  One of those, by Jack Morgan only 1:38 into the game, was taken from only five yards away and was deflected out of bounds on a brilliant diving stop by George Fox keeper Luke Ridder.

The Bruins' first shot turned out to be Hammer's goal at the 20:35 mark.  Whitman keeper Niko Contos tried to clear a ball that had rolled into the box but hit it low enough for Hammer to intercept it about 30 yards out.  The Bruin forward quickly reversed the ball, beat three defenders, and when Contos stepped out to contest the run but was unable to control a loose ball, Hammer regained control, moved past the keeper, and fired an easy shot into an unoccupied net to give George Fox the lead.

The Missionaries answered with the equalizer at the 31-minute mark.  Sam Perkins directed a 40-yard free kick into the box, where Logan Grimes flicked it to Barsher, who headed it home inside the left post for a 1-1 tie, which stood up into the second half.

Whitman turned up the offensive heat in the second period after getting only two shots on goal out of 12 total attempts in the opening half.  The Missionaries took 15 second-half tries, nine of them on goal, and Ridder was able to corral all but one - but that one was enough to give the visitors the victory.

In the 63rd minute, Barsher controlled the ball inside the left side of the box, turned for a shot, and when Ridder stood in his way, he sent the ball to the right to Jesse Mirman, who immediately returned the pass.  Ridder had shifted positions, and Barsher found himself with an open look and sent the ball inside the left post for the game-winner.

The Bruins had one excellent opportunity to tie the game only a minute-and-a-half from the end.  Luke Dickens sent a hard cross on the ground from outside the right of the box to Hammer, who was stationed in the middle only 10 yards out.  Hammer tried to redirect the pass to the left corner of the net, but Contos was there to make his third and final stop of the game, preserving the win.

Whitman out-shot George Fox 27-6 ovearll, 11-4 in shots on goal, and held a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks.  Junpei Tsuji led the Missionaries with six shots, while Hammer had two shots for the Bruins.  Ridder finished with a career-high nine saves.

NEXT: George Fox (1-15, NWC 0-10) hosts Whitworth University while Whitman (6-8-2, NWC 5-4-1) goes to Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore., on Sunday, both games starting at 2:30 p.m.