Press Release
10/28 - GEORGE FOX 5, PACIFIC 1: McKinsey and Stevens Power Bruins Past Boxers
NEWBERG, Ore. - George Fox University forwards Jenny McKinsey and Amber Stevens combined for four goals and three assists, powering the Bruins past the Pacific University Boxers 5-1 in a Northwest Conference women's soccer match Sunday afternoon here at Morse Field.
McKinsey got the Bruins rolling seven minutes into the game when she rebounded a shot by Jessica McMorran that had been deflected by Pacific keeper Anna Beebe, who was making her first appearance of the year, and shot it into the center of the net for a 1-0 lead. The Boxers nearly came up with the equalizer six minutes later with a flurry of shots. Kelli Ganiko headed one that was blocked by Bruin keeper Jessica Cardwell, Ganiko shot her own rebound off the near post, and then Lauren Kanda hit that rebound toward an open goal, only to have a Bruin defender clear the ball just before it went in.
McKinsey made it 2-0 at 28:53 when Stevens crossed to her from the left sideline and she put it inside the near post for her 10th goal of the season. Pacific cut the deficit in half at 30:30 when Kathy Post drilled a shot from 30 yards out off the crossbar, Cardwell tumbled to the ground after leaping to ward off the shot, and Ashley Kanda was in the right place at the right time for an easy putback into a wide-open net for her third score of the season.
George Fox added one more goal in the opening stanza at 33:10 when Carol Christiansen notched her second goal of the year with a point-blank shot from the middle of a scrum after a corner kick by Nicole Akiu, then added two insurance goals in the second half when McKinsey twice fed Stevens for scores. The first came on a cross from the right side which Stevens took in front of the goal, split two defenders, and hooked a left-footed shot into the upper right corner at 48:29. The second came on a throw-in from the left side, with Stevens spinning and sending a sharp grounder just inside the near post for her 10th goal as well at 88:20.
The Bruins finished with the edge in shots, 18-15, and in shots on goal, 11-8, while the Boxers had a slight advantage in corner kicks, 4-3. Each keeper had six saves.
George Fox (11-6-1, NWC 8-5-1), which assured itself of no worse than fourth place in the conference with its win, hosts the 4th-ranked and undefeated University of Puget Sound (17-0) Friday at 11:00 a.m. Pacific (4-13-1, NWC 2-12) hosts Willamette University Friday, also at 11:00 a.m.