By Jacob Hayes

Forest Grove --- The George Fox Bruins took care of business on the road, defeating the Pacific (Ore.) Boxers by a final score of 1-0.

Recap:

Even with no goals scored in the first half, an entertaining match unfolded with both teams vying for possession, but neither taking control of the game.  Within the first ten minutes, an early corner kick for the Boxers had themselves in an advantageous position to lead early, but great defensive play by the Bruins kept the game scoreless.  

As the half progressed, George Fox began to find their groove, leading to some backline breakthroughs and four shots on goal.  Great midfield play gave forwards Madison Burch and Maggee Hodgdon chances to score, but defensive saves by goalkeeper Kali Barber kept the Bruins off the board going into the break.  

The start of the second half had the Boxers in control of the ball and leading charges down the field.  Great Bruin defense by the Savannah Sexton, Leanna Harris, and Daria Brandt stifled the barrage, and in the 54th minute, they turned it into a strong Bruin counterattack that ended with Burch finding the back of the net off a beautiful cross from Megan Harrington.  

Being down a goal, Pacific had a difficult time getting back into the game.  Each push was neutralized with a strong defensive stand from George Fox. In the waining moments of the half, the Boxers couldn't overcome the Bruin momentum from the early goal, sealing the 1-0 shoutout.

Top Performers:

Burch and Hodgdon pounded the net, combining for five total shots on goal, including the winning shot. Goalkeeper Brooke Jones finished the game with four saves and the win. The entire back line for Fox played well too, shutting out the Boxers for the full 90 minutes.

What It Means:

George Fox is now 2-5 in conference play and improve to 4-5-1 on the season.

What Happens Next:

The Bruins travel to McMinnville, Ore., to take on the Linfield College Wildcats on Sunday, October 13th.  The match kicks off at 12:00 pm.