NEWBERG, Ore. -- The Bruins clinch a spot in the Northwest Conference tournament with a 22-1 win over Pacific Lutheran on Saturday. 

How It Happened
Fox got off to a quick start, scoring five goals in the first four minutes of the game. Morgan Maxfield got the scoring train started, rushing in from the left side and finding the back of the net for goal number one. Lana Davis then secured the draw straight out of the goal, finding Ava Bluhm for the second goal of the game. Merrick Gibson went on to score the next two goals for the Bruins with a great individual effort and another assist from Davis. Sasha Thayer got in on the action next, making a great cut after a pass from Claire Abraham for goal number five of the quarter. Davis then scored with just under seven minutes to go, and Abraham got a goal of her own to make it 7-0 heading into the second quarter. 

The second quarter scoring began with a caused turnover by Audrey White in the offensive half, finding Cipriana Flores, who hit a wide-open Thayer in front of the goal. White got in on the action just under a minute later, scoring a goal of her own on a fast break. She then caused another turnover, this time finding Anna Newkirk for the Bruins' tenth goal of the game. The scoring started to spread out after Newkirk's goal, as Thayer, Naomi Rauch, Davis, and Abraham all found the back of the net to cap the scoring in the second quarter. Fox went into halftime up 14-0, outshooting the Lutes 29-2. 

The second half slowed down for the Bruins, as they took their foot ever so slightly off the gas pedal. Ava Bluhm notched her second goal of the game after a sweet ball fake on a free-position shot. White then secured her second goal of the game a few minutes later on a free position shot of her own, extending the lead to sixteen. After Bluhm and Thayer added another goal each, Davis stepped up to the plate to close out the scoring for the quarter. She split through defenders and found the back of the net with a trick shot, throwing the ball behind her back and making the score 19-0 after three. Rauch, Stela Flores, and Gibson closed out the Bruins' scoring in the game, and the Lutes found the back of the net with three minutes remaining to make the score 22-1.  

Top Performers
Thayer led all scoring with four goals, also adding an assist to her name. Davis and Gibson finished with three goals and two assists each, and Ava Bluhm contributed three goals as well. The Bruins were ever so close to a shutout, as Myah Pack got the win with one save and one goal against. 

Coach's Thoughts
"The team did a great job of staying focused today," said Bruins head coach Jordyn Merkel. "We played well together as a team and made several improvements from yesterday's match against UPS." 

Why It Matters
The Bruins are now 10-4 (6-0 NWC) on the season, officially clinching a spot in the Northwest Conference Tournament, and the Lutes fall to 1-12 (0-6 NWC) in their first year of existence.

What Happens Next
Fox hits the road and heads to McMinnville to face the Linfield Wildcats next Saturday, April 26th. The match is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM.