By: Jake Bienvenue

NEWBERG - The George Fox women's soccer team took on Carroll (Wis.) for the first game of the 2018 season, earning a hard-fought victory, 1-0.

Recap:

The opening half was competitive as both teams worked to maintain possession and create chances on offense. It was the Bruins who struck first, however, as they managed to find the back of the net in the 30th minute. Leanna Harris sent in a beautiful ball which was headed in by the waiting Savannah Moisan, giving George Fox the early lead.

The second half was competitive and saw both teams rattle off shots against each other. Bruin goalkeeper Annalisa Klein had several key saves down the stretch, and the offense was able to put enough pressure on Carroll to keep the game competitive in the closing minutes.

The Bruins outshot the visiting team 16-9 on their way to a win in front of the home crowd, 1-0.

Top Performers:

Moisan got it done tonight, tallying four shots and a goal. Harris tallied one shot as well as an assist to contribute to the scoring effort. Klein was a force in goal, earning three saves and a shared shutout after taking over for Kelsey Kammerzell in the tenth minute. "Kelsey is a cornerstone of the team for us, but Annalisa has been training with her for [more than] a year now and we have full confidence that she can get the job done," Coach Cory Hand said after the shutout win. 

What It Means:

The George Fox women's soccer team start their season with a win in front of a packed home crowd while playing a perennial powerhouse in Carroll. "We're excited to see the team build on the foundation from last year and pick up where we left off," Coach Hand said after the victory. "Carroll is a strong team and limited our opportunities but we found a way to get it done tonight."

What Comes Next:

The Bruins will host UC Santa Cruz on Friday, September 7 at 12:00pm.