Box Score Photo Taken By: Jake Ryan, Student Photographer
By: Jake Bienvenue
NEWBERG, Ore. --- The George Fox women's soccer team played the Willamette Bearcats at home Sunday, where the Bruins won a thrilling Northwest Conference match-up in the second period of overtime, 1-0.
Recap:
The first half of play saw both teams getting shots on goal, though neither team was able to score. The Bearcats had a lot of shots that went wide of the goal, making the 12-4 shot differential closer than it appears when misses are considered.
The teams went into the half in a scoreless tie.
The second half followed a similar pattern as the teams continued to trade shots. The Bruins were able to put up more shots in the second half than they did in the first (up from four to six), but were unable to slip one into the back of the net as regulation time ended with both teams still scoreless.
The first period of overtime ended likewise as the teams remained evenly balanced.
Just when the spectators thought the game would end in a tie, the miraculous happened: Bruin goalkeeper Morgan Bars led a staunch defensive unit that came up with two deflections and a thrilling save in the final minutes of the game. Surrounded by black jerseys in the box, the women in white kept the opposition at bay and the ball out of the home goal. Had the Bearcats been able to score, the game would have ended in a loss, per the sudden death rules of the NCAA.
The Bruin offense, not to be outdone by their defensive counterparts, capitalized on the shift in momentum in the final minute of play with a surge towards the opposing goal. The Bruins were able to get a shot at the keeper who, after a mid-air collision with a George Fox player, left the goal open for freshman midfielder Kayla Caldeira to win the game with a goal in the 109th minute.
The victorious Bruins rushed the field under a clock with two seconds left on it and a scoreboard that read 1-0.
Top Performers:
Forward Savannah Moisan and Caldeira led the Bruins' offense with the former tallying four shots and the latter tallying two shots, and the game-winning goal. Goalkeeper Morgan Bars earned the shutout with eight saves, one of which decided the game.
What's Next:
The Bruins head into Portland Wednesday to take on Lewis & Clark at 7p.m.
