Press Release
9/29 - PACIFIC 1, GEORGE FOX 0: Boxers Score in First Overtime to Baffle Bruins
FOREST GROVE, Ore. - Cory Arashiro scored the only goal of the game just over six minutes into the first overtime, giving the Pacific University Boxers a 1-0 win over the George Fox University Bruins in Northwest Conference women's soccer action Saturday afternoon here at Lincoln Park Stadium.
The game was evenly contested as both teams attempted 14 shots, with the Boxers holding a 7-5 advantage in shots on goal. Pacific appeared have scored in the first half when Ashley Kanda got off a shot at the front of the 5-yard box in the 15th minute that beat George Fox goalie Jessica Cardwell to the left corner, but the Boxer was ruled offside.
The Bruins took their two best shots in the second half. In the 57th minute, Jenny McKinsey was fouled just inside the Pacific end line, and Nicole Akiu placed the free kick right to the top of the 18-yard box where McKinsey shot, only to be blocked by a Pacific defender. The other chance came in the 67th minute when McKinsey placed a free kick from 40 yards out to Sierra Whitehill inside the penalty area, and her header sailed just above the crossbar.
As the overtime period began, the Bruins' Amber Stevens appeared to have the Boxers beat with a breakaway, coming within five yards of the goal before Pacific keeper Sydney Vincent met the ball just in time for the save.
The Boxers got the winning goal on a give-and-go as Kanda and Arashiro passed the ball back and forth a couple of times before Arashiro shot the ball from the left side of the goal past a lunging Cardwell for her first collegiate score at the 96:07 mark.
Vincent earned her fourth shutout of the season in goal, making five saves. Cardwell registered six saves in the loss. The victory was the second straight on the new Lincoln Park pitch and allowed the Boxers to surpass their total of three wins from the 2006 season.
George Fox (6-3, NWC 4-2) returns to action on Monday, hosting Simpson University from Redding, Calif., in a non-conference tilt at 12:00 noon. Pacific (4-5-1, NWC 2-4) hits the road to the University of Puget Sound next Saturday for a 12:00 noon NWC match.