TACOMA, Wash. ---The George Fox women's soccer held their own against the No. 21 ranked team in the nation on Saturday, playing the unbeaten Puget Sound Loggers to a gritty 1-1 tie.
How it Happened
The match got off to a sluggish start, with both teams combining to shoot two shots over the first 16 minutes. The tides shifted in favor of the Loggers when Bruin defender Daria Brandt picked up a yellow card. Following the card, the Loggers would outshoot the Bruins 4-0 over the next 28 minutes. Despite the offensive dominance, Bruin goalie Sara Thudium tallied two saves to keep the half scoreless.
The second half began with more of the same. Puget Sound peppered Thudium and the Bruin defense with shots but was unable to convert. The Loggers were outshooting the Bruins 7-2 in the half before Amber Jewell struck first blood. The senior defender pelted a ball past the Logger goalie to score in the 77th minute, sending the Bruin bench into hysterics.
Only five minutes later, the Loggers finally broke through. After three straight shots that sailed over the crossbar, Mimi Carrier-Berndt sent a ball through the goal to tie up the game. Willa Evans nearly scored a goal in the 88th minute, but the ball drifted high.
The scoreless overtime periods went at a frenzied pace. The Bruins were only able to muster two shots on goal, both saved. For the Loggers, Kiana Serrao had the best opportunity in the 106th minute when her low shot was saved. The final minutes went by without a shot from either team, and the thrilling match concluded in a tie, 1-1.
Top Performances
Jewell's goal was the first goal in her career; the senior defender had only taken three shots in her career prior to Saturday's game. Maggie Phillips had three shots as well, two of which were on goal. Seven of the Bruins' 11 shots were on target. Defensively, Sara Thudium recorded four saves, while Brandt, Evans, and Kara Ryker held a strong backline together.
Coach's Thoughts
"It was a game either team could have won and in the end I think both sides are probably not satisfied with a tie," coach Laura Schott said after the match. "Puget Sound has a great staff and that team is a great opponent for us - I'm really proud of our group. We are working on proving that this is where we belong, competing in great games against Top 25 opponents, expecting to win, and not being satisfied with anything less."
What it Means
Despite not picking up the W, the Bruin women certainly have a lot to be proud of. The tie was only the Loggers' second tie of the season, and their record stands at 13-0-2. For the Bruins, their Northwest Conference record stands at 7-2-2, good for third in the NWC. George Fox's overall record sits at 9-4-2.
Up Next
The Bruins travel from Tacoma to McMinnville on Sunday to take on the rival Linfield Wildcats. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
