NEWBERG, Ore. -- The George Fox Men's Soccer team fought hard against the Willamette Bearcats in the first game of Northwest Conference play, but ultimately came up short, losing 2-1 on a late goal.
How it Happened
Goalie
Joshua Adams-Vakulenko, who earned his first start of his career in the game, was tested early and often. Six minutes into the game, Willamette took their first shot, with the Bruin goalie stopping it. In the next six minutes, Adams-Vakulenko completed two more saves, with an additional shot deflected off of the post as Willamette controlled possession early.
Finally, midway through the first half, Bearcat Brenden Pineda found the back of the net, taking a failed cross and hitting a low ball through to put Willamette up, 1-0. The game shifted to a far more even match, with
Carson Tapia and
Zac LeVin each recording shots. At the half, Fox trailed, 1-0.
Willamette took a shot on goal ten minutes into the second half, but was again denied by George Fox's goalkeeper. The game continued its balanced approach, with possession even between the teams. 24 minutes into the second half, though,
Raiden Renggli;s run to the far post paid off, sneaking a goal into the lower right corner on a cross by Zac Levin.. One minute later, Willamette responded with their own attempt on goal, which was thwarted by Adams-Vakulenko.Â
Willamette earned another chance with a foul just outside the box in the 82nd minute. Pineda stepped up for the free kick, with his shot deflecting off of the Bruin wall and working its way into the lower-left goal. The Bruins weren't able to record a shot to end the game, with Willamette taking the 2-1 victory.Â
Top Performances
Midfielder
Raiden Renggli scored the Bruin's season opener. Midfielders Renggli and Maxwell Visser, defenders
Talon Wagner and
Liam Urbina, and forward
Aidan Brouddus played the entire 90 minutes. Adams-Vakulenko recorded six saves in his starting debut.
What it Means
The Bruins lose their third game of the season, slipping to 0-3-0 (0-1-0 NWC). Willamette's record climbs to 1-2-0 (1-0-0 NWC).
Coach's Thoughts
"This evening the guys showed an incredible amount of grit responding to the first goal," said Bruin head coach
Paul Karver. "We were very good when we were able to get the ball on the floor and play.We consistently get better and part of that is learning from matches like this when we were not accountable in key moments."
What Happens Next
Fox will remain in Newberg, Ore. to play Lewis & Clark on Sunday, September 13. Kickoff is set for noon.
