NEWBERG, Ore. — The George Fox men's soccer team was able to hold off a late push for a goal by the Pirates to hold onto a 0-0 tie against the second-placed Whitworth Pirates.
How It Happened
The first half of the match saw some notable plays from key players on both sides. Although the Pirates held much of the possession in the initial minutes of the game, the Bruins remained resolute. Five minutes into the game,
Isaac Nakayama attempted a strong shot that was well saved by Whitworth's goalkeeper, Aiden Chase. Whitworth would continue to press, but the Bruins backline held firm, handling each of the Pirates shots throughout the rest of the first half.
George Fox had opportunities to break the deadlock, registering four more shots during the first half. However, they were unable to find the back of the net. Whitworth would end the half with eight shots and three corner kicks.
Keoni Gavino helped keep the scoreline at 0-0 with his five saves in the half.
The second half continued to be a close match, with opportunities for both teams to take the lead. Despite double-digit shots, multiple corner kicks, and numerous substitutions, neither team managed to secure the lead. Whitworth would continue to be persistent in their offensive efforts, taking eight additional shots in the second half. Nevertheless, the Bruins were able to keep all of them out of the back of the net with team-blocked shots and keeper saves. With 45 seconds to play, the Bruins were able to block two Pirates shots, allowing Fox keeper
Keoni Gavino to make the final save and run out the clock to ensure the tie.
Top Performers
Eugene Peltier had two shots.
Kaimi Victor,
Connor Kong, and
Isaac Nakayama all had one shot on goal. Keoni Gavio made seven saves on the night.
Coach's Thoughts
"We continue to find ways to grow every day," said Bruin head coach
Paul Karver, "Today, there was a fantastic dedication to giving only the things we were willing to give to create the things we wanted to create vs a Whitworth team that is very dangerous. The parody in our conference continues to make every game a battle, and that is what makes being in our conference so special."
Up Next
The Bruins will wrap up their final game of the season tomorrow against the Whitman Blues at Austin Sports Complex. The game is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m.
