Box Score
FOREST GROVE, ORE. – The Puget Sound women's soccer team finds itself in a familiar position after a trip to Forest Grove: heading home with a win and sole possession of first place in the Northwest Conference.
The nine-time defending conference champs made their shots count in a 3-0 win over Pacific at Lincoln Park Stadium, improving to 6-1 in conference play and 8-2 overall with their seventh straight win over the Boxers.
After nearly scoring on a corner kick in the opening minutes, UPS broke the ice in the 26
th minute when Lauren Hamilton scored from close range off an assist by Lauren Swanson.
Leading 1-0 at intermission, the Loggers withstood a strong attack by the Boxers (3-3-1 NWC, 6-4-1 overall), who outshot UPS 9-5 in the second half, but could only put two shots on frame. Pacific had eight corner kicks in the second half, but could not produce quality shots against Puget Sound's top-rated defense.
The Loggers extended their lead when Mikaela Freeman scored on a header in the 63
rd minute, allowing them to focus even more attention on a defense that has allowed just two goals in seven NWC contests.
The Boxers had their last best shot on a
Shekema McCarthy (Sr., Davis, Calif.) strike in the 85
th minutes, but UPS goalkeeper Kara Merfeld (5-0) secured her third and final save. Less than a minute later, the Loggers polished off their shutout victory with a goal by Kylie Beeson, who redirected Abby Goss's cross into the opposite corner of the goal.
McCarthy had two of Pacific's three shots on goal. The Loggers edged the Boxers 11-10 in total shots, but put eight of their shots on frame to just three for the Boxers. For the third consecutive game, the Boxers played without leading scorer
Jordan Bodily (Sr., Eagle, Idaho), who is out with an ankle injury.
Pacific heads south to take on Linfield on Sunday in McMinnville with the match kicking off at noon.
