NEWBERG, Ore. -- The George Fox women's soccer team kicked off their season playing against the Whittier Poets, with the game ultimately ending in a close 0-1 loss.

How It Happened
The game opened with Whittier in possession of the ball, and though the Poets rattled off four shots in the opening 19 minutes, Fox made it tough for them to break through. With 25 minutes remaining in the half, Whittier broke through the middle and attempted their first shot on goal, with keeper Emily Robey blocking it with ease. 

Whittier passed the ball back out, but the Bruins grabbed it, making a run towards the other side. With two minutes left on the clock, Fox got a free kick, passing it to outer right as Morgan Phalen drove the ball far and wide to the center and attempted a shot, one that sailed wide and ended the first half 0-0.

The second half began with a corner kick by Rylee Galyon before three additional Whittier shots were attempted Fox tried to find their way to their side of the field, and with Isabelle Carrington attempting a shot that went wide.

In a game where Fox would be outshot 16-4, the turning point finally came on shot number 11 for the Poets. Off of a corner kick, Emma Tumbarello fired a ball that was saved by a defender in Phalen; off of the rebound, Isabella Lechuga put the ball in the back of the net to give Whittier a 78th-minute goal and handing the Bruins a heartbreaking 0-1 defeat.

Top Performers
Isabelle Carrington ended the day with 2 shots overall, while both freshman Sarah Burkes and Morgan Phalen had one shot each, starting their season off solid. Emily Robey and Marisa Lam split time in goal; Robey totaled two saves while Lam had five.

What It Means
The Bruins move to 0-1 on the season, while Whittier rises to 2-0.

What Happens Next
The Bruins will look to stay in good spirits as they head to La Verne, California on Monday, September 1 to play against the La Verne Leopards. The game is scheduled to start at 10:00 am.