Press Release
10/11 - GEORGE FOX 0, WILLAMETTE 0: Cardwell Sets Shutout Mark as Bruins Tie Bearcats
SALEM, Ore. - Senior goalkeeper Jessica Cardwell set a new George Fox University record with her 17th career shutout, but the Bruin offense could not generate a goal either and the Bruins had to settle for a 0-0 double-overtime draw with the Willamette University Bearcats in a Northwest Conference women's soccer match Thursday night here at Sparks Field.
Cardwell, with her fourth whitewash of the season, broke the George Fox record of 16 shutouts set by Meghan Gibson in a two-year career from 1997-98. She had four saves in the record-setting game.
Despite holding a decided advantage in shots (20-11) and shots on goal (11-4), the Bruins were unable to punch across the score that would have given the team a win, as Bearcat keeper Kelli Gano made 11 saves of her own.
The game was relatively even through the first two periods, George Fox taking 12 total shots to nine for Willamette, though the Bruins did have more opportunities, with nine shots on goal to only three for the Bearcats. Willamette had the best chance, however, midway through the the first half when Cardwell was unable to hold onto a loose ball and the Bearcats tapped the ball away from a crowd and into the net. However, the Bearcats were ruled offside on the play.
The Bruins turned up the heat in the two overtime periods, taking six shots in the first overtime and two in the second, while the defense limited the Bearcats to only one shot in each 10-minute segment. George Fox had their best opportunities to break the deadlock in the first overtime when Jenny McKinsey twice nailed shots that hit the crossbar and deflected away instead of into the net, the first coming 3:15 into the overtime, and the second just 28 seconds from the end of the extra period.
All 11 starters for the Bruins played the entire game, though Nicole Akiu did leave the field for a minute or two early in the second period with an apparent leg injury, and the Bruins went with only 10 players on the field at that time in order to be able to return her to the game quickly.
George Fox (8-4-1, NWC 5-3-1) returns home to host Pacific Lutheran University Sunday at 12:00 noon. Willamette (4-5-2, NWC 3-4-2) entertains 5th-ranked University of Puget Sound Saturday, also at 12:00 noon.