NEWBERG, Ore. – Nursing a slender one-goal lead entering the second half, the University of Puget Sound Loggers exploded for three scores in the final 45 minutes to take a 4-0 win over the George Fox University Bruins in a rain-soaked Northwest Conference men's soccer match Sunday afternoon here at the Austin Sports Complex.

The two teams battled on even terms through the first 34 minutes, thanks largely to three fine saves by George Fox keeper Ricardo Sotelo that kept the Loggers off the scoreboard.  UPS snapped the scoreless deadlock at 34:01 when Carson Swope crossed from the right side of the box to Sean Ryan, who flicked the ball left for Josh Sonico, who then scored his first goal of the season to the far right corner.

The Bruins had a chance to tie it five minutes later when Luke Hammer got open in the box, but the Loggers' Nathan King was there to make the stop on the Bruins' only shot-on-goal of the game.   George Fox finished with eight total shots, Angelo Florez leading the way with three tries, but winning goalie King and Daniel Kirsch, who worked the final 17 minutes, combined for the shutout.

Swope was involved in the Loggers' first goal of the second half, Geoffrey Cleveland lofting a pass ahead while driving in from the left to Swope, who secured the ball, juked a defender, and beat Sotelo one-on-one to the center of the net for his fourth goal of the season at 52:47.  Swope picked up his second assist of the game when he and Matthew Durland each hit one-touches to the middle of the box for Vincent McCluskey, who shot quickly into the middle of the net for his first goal at 65:18.  Durland completed the Loggers' scoring when he hit home a free ball that was tapped out of a scrum by Luke Sandblom in front of the net at 72:30.

UPS finished with 18 total shots, eight on goal, with Swope taking four to lead the attack.  Sotelo made four saves in going the distance in the net for the Bruins.  Corner kick chances were even at three apiece.

NEXT: George Fox (1-7, NWC 0-2) makes the eastern Washington swing next weekend, starting with a Saturday visit to Whitworth University for a 2:30 p.m. game … Puget Sound (4-3, NWC 2-0) hosts Willamette University Saturday at 2:30 p.m.