Early Arrington Goal End Pacific's Season With A Win
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Video: Patrick Murray Gets Start In Senior Game
FOREST GROVE –
Alex Arrington's (Fr., Portland, Ore.) early goal in the sixth minute proved to be all that Pacific would need to end their 2011 season with a victory Saturday as the Boxers blanked George Fox 1-0 in Northwest Conference men's soccer action at Lincoln Park Stadium.
Arrington was fed the game-winner by
Kody Ganiko (Jr., Makawao, Hawaii), who roped a crossing pass in from just above the 18-yard box. Arrington moved around one George Fox defender and found the corner of the net on the near post for his second goal of the season.
The victory allowed a young and injury-riddled Pacific team to finished with a 5-12-1 overall record and in sixth place in the NWC at 5-8-1 (16 points). George Fox wrapped up the season with a 2-15-1 mark and last in the NWC at 0-13-1.
The match was hard fought throughout, with the Boxers out-shooting the Bruins 16-14. Both teams finished with five corner kicks.
The match, however, started with a brilliant show of sportsmanship.
Patrick Murray (Sr., Hillsboro, Ore.), who has missed the entire second half of the season with a broken foot, started his final game in a Pacific uniform. Murray was allowed to take the opening kick at the center circle uncontested, after which the ball was kicked out of bounds. He was immediately subbed for by
Adler Pottebaum (Fr., Portland, Ore.), allowing Murray to play in his senior game.
George Fox's had two solid chances to tie it in the first half. Luke Andrew shot a bullet of a shot from 25 yards out that glanced off the crossbar and away from the net. Andrew again had another good opportunity to hit from 20 yards out, only to be stopped by Pacific goalkeeper
Zach Cohen (So., Graton, Calif.), who made his sixth start of the season.
Neither team connected in the second half, but it wasn't for a lack of chances. Pottebaum had a pair of nice opportunities from inside the penalty area in the 61st and 62nd minutes, which were both turned away by George Fox netminder Elliott Davis. The Bruins' best second half chance came on a set play in 71st minute when Elliott, pulled out of goal to take the free kick at the offensive end of the pitch, lined a ball to the central zone of the goal right to the hands of Cohen.
Arrington led Pacific with four shots, while Andrew's four attempts led the Bruins. Cohen earned his first collegiate career shutout in goal, making seven saves. Elliott took the loss for George Fox with five saves.
In addition to Murray, five other seniors were playing in their final matches for Pacific. They included
Taylor Kane (Portland, Ore.),
Jack Wickward (Portland, Ore.),
Conor Peterhans (Seattle, Wash.), Brian Cholico (Winnemucca, Nev.) and
Scott Kawamura (Aiea, Hawaii).
