Press Release
11/3 - GEORGE FOX 2, LINFIELD 1: Bruins Win Finale over Wildcats on Stevens' OT Goal
NEWBERG, Ore. - Closing out her George Fox University career in spectacular fashion, senior forward Amber Stevens scored the game-winning goal 20 seconds into the first overtime to give the Bruins a 2-1 win over the Linfield College Wildcats in a Northwest Conference women's soccer thriller Saturday here at Morse Field.
The visiting Wildcats took a 1-0 lead at the 20:48 mark of the first half when Steph Caster got the ball just inside the top of the penalty box, drove her defender down the right side of the box to the baseline, then spun back inside and fired a dart just inside the near post for her fifth goal of the season. That one solitary goal stood for the next 55 minutes as the Wildcats repeatedly turned away numerous attempts, particularly in the second half, by the Bruins, who eventually wound up with a 25-10 advantage in total shots.
The Bruins finally netted the equalizer on an unassisted goal by Jenny McKinsey with 15 minutes left in the game. The sophomore forward made a run across the top of the box from right to left, reversed direction, and put her tying shot inside the left post after Linfield keeper Kelsey Hasselblad had shifted to her left in anticipation of a shot toward the far post. It was McKinsey's 11th goal of the season.
George Fox got six more shots and Linfield two in the final 15 minutes of regulation, but neither could break the tie. The Bruins took the kickoff as overtime began, and Nicole Akiu got the ball and went racing down the center before passing ahead to Stevens. After driving into the box past all other Linfield defenders, Stevens tipped the ball past Hasselblad, who had stepped out to challenge her, and sent the game-winner into the unguarded left corner for her 11th score of the season.
George Fox finished with an 8-4 edge in shots on goal and 3-1 in corner kicks. Hasselblad had six saves for the Wildcats, while Jessica Cardwell had three for the Bruins.
Stevens ended her Bruin career with 25 goals, 14 assists, and 64 points, ranking third all-time at George Fox in assists and fourth in goals and points. Cardwell, also a senior, completed her four-year career with 512 saves and a school-record 18 shutouts. Cherie Beck, another four-year player, is the third and final senior who played her last game for the Bruins.
George Fox finished the season with a 12-6-2 record, the team's best record and first winning season since 2000, and ended up tied for third in the conference at 9-5-2 with Whitman College, which dropped a 2-0 decision to Whitworth University Saturday. Linfield's season ended at 6-11-2 overall and 5-10-1 in the conference, leaving the Wildcats sixth.