McMINNVILLE, Ore. – The George Fox men's soccer team fell, 3-0, in a physical away game against the rival Linfield Wildcats.
How it Happened
Linfield's first opportunity came from a corner kick in the third minute, when a Wildcat forward attempted a header, missing high. In the tenth minute,
Liam Urbina rolled a ball into the box, but Linfield's goalkeeper made the save. Shortly following,
Patrick O'Brien stopped a shot that was headed for the lower-left corner of the goal. Fox's subsequent possession of the ball led to
Zac LeVin sneaking a high-center shot which was deflected by the goalkeeper.
Carson Tapia took a shot from outside the 18-yard box a minute later, but Linfield's goalie completed another save. In the 20th minute, O'Brien kept another shot away.
Both teams exchanged fouls as the match kept on, and a Linfield shot was blocked in the 28th minute. Urbina made an on-target attempt a few minutes later, but his lower-right shot was saved. In the same minute, LeVin tore off down the field and fired a shot that sailed just above the goal.
Things shifted in the 36th minute on a zany play. Though Wildcat Julian Lara-Martinez's shot was initially thought to be short of the goal line, the referees ultimately ruled it a goal — resulting in the rare occasion where a team scores a goal without the ball hitting the net. With Linfield now in the lead 1-0, Fox couldn't find an equalizer in the first half.
The Wildcats showed their teeth early in the second half, launching two on-goal attempts in the first minute; O'Brien made both saves on the left side of the goal. Linfield wasn't done, as they sent two shots above the goal and took a blocked shot, all within the first three minutes. LeVin fought back with two shots, one of which was on target.
Following a throw-in on Fox's side of the field in the 53rd minute, Linfield's Aaron Nowack found the top-left corner of the net, increasing the gap to 2-0. The next Wildcat shot fell just right of the goal. O'Brien kept Linfield from scoring in the 56th minute after briefly bobbling the ball. The Bruin defense saw trouble two minutes later, when a foul created a free-kick opportunity for Linfield. The shot, taken from just beyond the penalty area, deflected off the outside post and was sent out of play. In the 65th minute, O'Brien logged another save on a shot aimed for the lower-right corner of the goal. Linfield's next shot flew just over the crossbar.
What looked like a chance for the Bruins to close the gap led to a costly turnover.
Aidan Brouddus took a free kick for Fox in the 69th minute, and Tapia nearly headed the ball in, but Linfield's keeper stopped the Bruins from scoring. Possession shifted, and the Wildcats carried their momentum downfield. Midfielder Dani Paz's ensuing shot connected with the lower-left corner of the goal to make the score 3-0. Linfield tried to score again in the 72nd minute, but missed left. One minute later, Tapia took another shot, but it was blocked. Linfield's offense slowed down, with their next and final shot taking place in the 85th minute; the ball flew above the net. The Bruins picked up their pace, pressing to find scoring opportunities, but ultimately couldn't record another shot as Linfield outshot Fox, 19-9. The game ended with a 3-0 loss for George Fox.
Top Performances
Zac LeVin and
Carson Tapia took four and three shots, respectively. LeVin, Tapia, and
Liam Urbina each shot twice on goal. Linfield continually tested goalkeeper
Patrick O'Brien, who recorded six saves. O'Brien,
Talon Wagner,
Raiden Renggli,
Aidan Brouddus, and
Wilson Fresh all played for the full 90 minutes.
What it Means
Fox's record falls to 3-9-3 (3-7-3 NWC) while Linfield rises to 4-8-3 (3-6-2 NWC).
What Happens Next
GFU returns to Newberg, Ore., to face the Whitman Blues on Saturday, October 31. Kickoff is set for noon.
