Press Release
9/13 - GEORGE FOX 3, WILLAMETTE 1: Stevens Scores Two Big Goals as Bruins Beat Bearcats
NEWBERG, Ore. - Senior forward Amber Stevens scored the first goal of the game and a critical insurance goal late in the second half, lifting the George Fox University Bruins to a 3-1 win over the Willamette University Bearcats in the Northwest Conference opener for both teams Thursday afternoon here at Morse Field.
Stevens notched her first goal of the season when she fired a bullet just under the crossbar from 25 yards out near the left corner of the penalty box for a 1-0 Bruin lead 26:03 into the game. Kirsten Cardwell made it 2-0 five minutes before the half when she took a short pass from Jessica McMorran and sent a straight-on shot into the net from just inside the box.
After being out-shot 10-3 in the first half, the Bearcats came out aggressively in the second half and cut the margin to one when Michelle Noelke, despite several defenders near her, threaded in a shot from 15 yards away for her first goal after a long pass from Kelsey Rogel.
The Bruins got some breathing room back with five minutes left in the game. Nicole Akiu turned the right corner around a defender and fed Stevens just inside the box, who then headed the ball toward the goal. It was deflected slightly by a Bearcat defender but still had enough to make it into the net for Stevens' 17th career goal, moving her into seventh place all-time at George Fox.
The Bruins out-shot the Bearcats 24-11 overall and 12-5 in shots on goal. Jessica Cardwell had four saves in the net for the Bruins, while Lo Holahan had four in the first half and Kelli Gano five in the second half for the Bearcats.
George Fox (3-1, NWC 1-0) visits Pacific Lutheran Saturday and Willamette (1-2, NWC 0-1) goes to the University of Puget Sound Sunday in each team's next action, both games at 12:00 noon.