TACOMA, Wash. – The George Fox women's soccer team faced the highly competitive Puget Sound Loggers, falling 4-0 against the nationally ranked team.
How it Happened
The beginning of the game saw little offensive action from Fox; the opposite was true for the Loggers, who entered the game ranked No. 25 in the US Soccer Coaches Poll. One minute in,
Marisa Lam notched a save from a shot just outside the 18-yard box. Thirty seconds later, she gained possession of the ball again after Puget Sound made a similar attempt on goal. The Loggers kept the Bruins on their heels, applying pressure at every turn. At the seven-minute mark, a Logger corner kick created some confusion within the box before Lam claimed the ball, denying another goal. Within the next minute, Lam again executed a diving save.
With the ball spending so much time on Fox's side of the pitch, it was only a matter of time before Puget Sound managed to put numbers on the scoreboard. In the 16th minute, the Loggers broke away after a throw-in, scoring a goal in the low center and giving the team a 1-0 lead. The Bruins initiated a run down the field with roughly ten minutes remaining in the first half, but Puget Sound's goalie stood her ground, preventing Fox from getting a shot on goal. Lam completed two more saves in the final few minutes, but after an unfortunate bounce in the final seven seconds of the first half, Puget Sound's advantage increased, 2-0.
The second half featured similarly aggressive offense from Puget Sound. In the eighth minute, the Loggers shot and hit the crossbar, but Fox wasn't out of the woods—the home team regained control of the ball and scored a goal into the high left of the net, leading 3-0. Not two minutes later, Puget Sound sped towards Fox's goal again, finding the lower-left corner to make the score 4-0. Lam attained save after save, trying to keep the Bruins in the game. In the final few seconds, she narrowly deflected a free kick, preserving the 4-0 score in a game where Fox was ultimately unable to record a shot.
Top Performances
Marissa Lam was continually put to the test, recording a season-high of 10 saves. Lam fought for the full 90-minutes, while
Sophia Mapes clocked 88 minutes in-game.
What it Means
Fox's record slides to 1-4-0 (0-3-0 NWC); Puget Sound ascends to 4-0-1 (1-0-0 NWC), strengthening their national ranking.
What Happens Next
The Bruins will stay in Tacoma, Wash., to face Pacific Lutheran (3-1-1, 1-0-0 NWC). Kickoff is scheduled for 2:45 pm on Sunday, September 20.
WSOC
