McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Demonstrating why they are a close favorite to unseat the 10-time defending Northwest Conference champion University of Puget Sound, the 25th-ranked Linfield College Wildcats cruised past the George Fox University Bruins 5-0 in a women's soccer match on a soggy Sunday afternoon here at the Wildcats' soccer pitch.

The Wildcats put the game away early, scoring three goals in the game's first 26 minutes.  Emma Vukic scored on a penalty kick at 18:14, Ellie Schmidt made it 2-0 with a goal following a quick pass from Tegan Grunwald at 19:47, and Molly McCool tapped in a wide shot by Grunwald at 25:32.

After two assists in the first half, Grunwald got a goal of her own when she sent one into the far left corner of the net from 15 yards out at 49:14.  The Wildcats' last score came off a corner kick by Schmidt which was driven home by Sara Miller at 77:35.

Linfield took 24 shots in all, 12 of them on goal.  George Fox keeper Ally Swanson turned back seven of them for saves.  The Wildcats held the Bruins to only two shots in the game, one each by Junoet Perkins and Becca Allen, and none on goal.  Taylor Collinsworth went the distance and got the win in goal for the Wildcats.  Linfield also held a 9-3 advantage on corner kicks.

NEXT: George Fox (2-4, NWC 0-2) plays its first conference home game Saturday against Puget Sound at 12:00 noon … Linfield (7-0, NWC 3-0) visits Whitworth University Saturday at 12:00 noon.