NEWBERG, Ore. ---Â The George Fox women's soccer team dominated their Sunday game against Willamette from the very beginning, outshooting the Bearcats 32-7 en route to a resounding 2-0 victory.
How It HappenedÂ
The Bruins started the game by firing off four shots before the Bearcats even got the ball out of their side of the field. Much of the first half was played in Bearcat territory as there were several chances for the Bruins. However, George Fox wasn't able to capitalize early. Bearcat goalie Jordan Roue was a brick wall on defense with 14 saves in the game.
While Roue halted numerous Bruin chances, junior Maggie Phillips just kept creating more. The forward attempted nine shots in the first half, three of them on goal. In the 23rd minute, Phillips struck one above Roue and into the goal from beyond the 18-yard box. The Bruins headed into the half with a 1-0 lead.
The second half was more of the same. Phillips and MaggeeHodgdon created shots on goal, while Amy Hatter put a stop to a Willamette breakaway as the Bruin offense remained in control. Despite outshooting the Bearcats 28-3 over the first 70 minutes, the Bruins only held a 1-0 lead. That changed in the 72nd minute when Phillips gathered the rebound of a Lizzy Merkel shot and earned her second goal of the game. After holding off the Bearcats for the remaining 18 minutes, the Bruins left Austin Sports Complex with a convincing 2-0 win.
Top Performers
Phillips finished the match with 14 shots and two goals, outshooting the Bearcats by herself. Phillips' first goal was assisted by freshman midfielder Rebecca Kozak, her first assist of the year. Of the 32 shots the Bruins accumulated, 16 were on target.
Defensively, fifth-year senior Daria Brandt commanded the middle. Brandt has played the last 650 consecutive minutes for the Bruins. During those minutes, the Bruins have only conceded four goals. Part of that is due to the play of Amy Hatter, Willa Evans, and goalie Sara Thudium. Thudium recorded three saves in Sunday's game.
Coach's Thoughts
"It was really good to see that we created a lot of chances and that a lot of players played well," said Bruin head coach Laura Schott. "Overall, a good performance."
What It Means
The win catapults the Bruins to a 7-4-1 overall record. Their 5-2-1 Northwest Conference record is good enough for third in the NWC.
Up Next
The Bruin women will make a midweek trip to Portland to face the Lewis & Clark Pioneers on Wednesday. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
