By Jacob Hayes

Newberg, Ore. --- With stout defense and free-kick execution, the George Fox Bruins beat the Pacific (Ore.) Boxers by a final of 1-0.

How it Happened

From the opening whistle, both teams were ready to play.  Solid offensive possessions were stifled by even better open field defense.  Alan Rincon played two beautiful balls to the box, one from outside the 18 and the other from the right corner, but neither found the back of the net.  Connor Flolo's shot went wide left while Jackson Keller's shot was well above the crossbar.   Jamie O'Connell, Trevor Putnam, and Jonathan Gonzales held a strong back line, allowing only one shot through the first 45 minutes.

In the second half, the intensity ramped up, resulting in a combined 18 fouls and three yellow cards.  One of those fouls committed in the 76' by the Boxers gave the Bruins a free kick within the 18.  George Fox took advantage of the opportunity, scoring a goal on the play.  Sean Beuckens played the ball for Keller, who found the back right of the net.  With the lead at 1-0, Pacific played relentlessly down the stretch, attempting to push the game to overtime.  A final shot in the 90' almost tied it, but the ball sailed wide, securing the Bruin victory.

Top Performers

Keller's second goal of the season broke the late 0-0 tie to give the Bruins the win. Benton kept a clean sheet with solid direction given to his entire back line, allowing only two shots as a unit over the entire game - neither of which were on goal.

What it Means

The Bruins improve to 3-4 overall and in NWC matchups, winning the season series against the Boxers 2-1.  The Boxers fall to 2-6 overall and in conference play.

What Happens Next

The Bruins play their final spring game on Thursday, April 8 against the Willamette University Bearcats.  Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm at the Austin Sports Complex in Newberg, Ore.