Photo Taken By: Jake Ryan 

By: Ryan Lackey

NEWBERG, Ore. --- The weather began with the opening whistle as the Bruins hosted Pacific University on Saturday afternoon in a deluge of rain and goals that the Bruins won, 13-12, on a last-ditch Alexa Nakashimada goal. Entering Saturday's game, Pacific guarded a perfect 4-0 record, while the Bruins were 1-1. One would be hard-pressed to find a more evenly split game, though: after Pacific took an early 3-1 lead, neither team led by more than a single goal.

Recap:
The Bruins had 28 shots to the Boxers's 27; the Bruins took 14 draw controls, and Pacific won 13. For once, the statistics accurately reflected how closely contested Saturday's game was—the difference proved slight, in the little things. The Boxers opened the scoring with a free position goal from top scorer April Lanz, and Nicki Leeming doubled the lead a minute later.

Not fifty seconds afterwards, though, Nakashimada bagged her first goal of the day, putting the Bruins on the board. After an unassisted goal from Paisley Hiefield, the Bruins's Jess Hanson fired in a free position shot, and the game cooled for a few minutes.

Halfway through the first half, the Bruins took the lead through Nakashimada: her move into the circle and clever pass to Sydney Goo tied the game at 3-3, and then, cutting in from the left wing, Nakashimada slotted away a low shot for the Bruins's fourth.

Then, with the score 7-6 for the Boxers late in the first half, Nakashimada struck again. Her two unassisted goals, one from close-range and the other on an agile move in from the right, put the Bruins up 8-7. Another goal from Lanz saw the score 8-8 at half.

The scoring cooled in the game's latter half, but only just. Sydney Goo christened the second half with two quick goals: a wicked free position shot and a pirouette in from the right wing. Yet another goal from Lanz, though, kept the Boxers in it.

When Jordyn Godfrey scored for the Boxers with six minutes left, the Bruins found themselves down, 12-11, and in rather dire straits. The Boxers's defense held fast, and the visitors seemed about to claim victory when Jess Hanson found a pocket of space on the left and whipped in the tying goal.

With Hanson's goal, both teams were primed for overtime, but Nakashimada was not. With fifty seconds left, she picked up a ground ball and made a run in from the right, sidestepping a defender and finishing cooly into the netting: the Bruins had the game, 13-12.

Top Performers:
Besides her more obvious heroics, Nakashimada had a remarkable day, leading the Bruins with five goals and notching two assists. Sydney Goo and Jess Hanson both bagged three goals. Mikaela Easterlin's presence in goal cannot be overlooked: amidst the rain-drenched offensive outbreak, she made seven saves and deservedly took the win.

What It Means:
The Bruins improve to 2-1 overall and 2-0 in conference.

What Comes Next:
Tomorrow, the Bruins play host to conference rivals Linfield.