Box Score Photo Taken By: Jake Ryan
By: Ryan Lackey
FOREST GROVE, Ore. --- The Bruins traveled to Pacific University on Saturday for an away match with heavy Northwest Conference implications: with a win, the Bruins had the chance to even their record to .500 and climb to fourth in the NWC. With such a prized opportunity, the Bruins didn't disappoint, putting together a complete and cool performance en-route to a dominating 4-1 win over the Boxers. Four different players got on the scoresheet for the Bruins, and keeper Ricardo Sotelo was forced into just two saves.
Recap:
Sean Owens, Jose Becerra, Trevor Martin, and Arturo Hernandez all tallied goals: Martin bagged his first, Hernandez his second, and both Owens and Becerra stand at three goals, tied with Joab Logan for second-most by a Bruin this season. Miguel Lopez recorded the Bruins' only assist of the day, his third of the season; that the other three goals were unassisted illustrates the Bruins' individual and technical dominance.
From the outset, the Bruins displayed the work rate and technical ability to demand the majority of the possession and the looks at goal. Rowan Blake got off a couple shots early on, and keeper Sotelo made a find save on a headed shot from a corner – one of only two saves he'd be forced to make all game.
The Bruins broke through in the 20th minute, when Owens scored a stunner. Finding the ball thirty yards from goal, Owens put his laces through the ball and slashed it into the upper corner, emphatically putting the Bruins up, 1-0. Only misfortune and dogged Boxer defending prevented the Bruins from carrying a bigger lead into halftime: Owens had another good shot saved by Boxers keeper Leyton Thommasen in the 36th minute, and Becerra smashed a shot off the crossbar just before the whistle blew.
In the 68th minute, though, Becerra got another opportunity and refused to miss. With an open run at goal, Becerra slipped a perfect shot through the legs of the diving Thommasen to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead and a little breathing room. Less than a minute later, a pinpoint ball from Lopez found Martin, who finished coolly into the far corner, and with a 3-0 lead, the Bruins were cruising.
Awarded a penalty in the 77th minute, Pacific had a glimmer of hope when Matt Kimball converted the spot-kick past Sotelo, but the optimism was fleeting. In a remarkable individual effort, Arturo Hernandez, with room to run, raced beyond three Boxer defenders and ripped an unstoppable shot into the bottom-right corner, reestablishing the Bruins' three-goal margin. Just before full time, Lopez narrowly missed claiming his own goal, firing a rocket that sailed over the crossbar.
What It Means:
The 4-1 victory improves the Bruins to an even .500 overall at 6-6-1. The Bruins also sit at .500 in the NWC, and their 3-3-1 record is good for ten points and fourth place; Linfield, in fifth, trails by a point.
What Comes Next:
Next Saturday's match at first-place Whitworth is therefore critically important for the Bruins; a win away at the high-flying Pirates would solidify the Bruins' march up the table.
