Box Score |
Video Highlights
FOREST GROVE, ORE. –
Kailee Green's (Fr., Hillsboro, Ore.) goal 56 seconds into the first overtime period lifted the Pacific women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over visiting George Fox (0-3-2) in the Northwest Conference opener for both teams.
A decisive possession and shots advantage finally paid dividends less than a minute after the teams re-entered the field after ten minute break following the end of an impressively played, yet frustrating regulation. Over the first 90 minutes of play, the Boxers outshot the Bruins 20-8 with a 12-3 edge in shots on goal. Most of the second half was played on George Fox's side of the field, yet the score remained 0-0 until the extra stanza.
Shortly after the overtime kickoff,
Sarah Tuffey (So., Valencia) took a long pass and pushed the ball toward the Bruins goal line on the left side, playing it back to Green at the left corner of the goal box. The freshman defender passed a low shot just past the keeper to send the Boxers to their fourth win in five games, equaling Pacific's best start to a season since 2003.
“She's been moved all around in different positions,” said assistant coach Dane Christian of Green, who tallied her second goal of the season. “She always seems to not freak out and just do the simple things. And she got one.
The match went into extra time thanks to two extraordinary saves by George Fox goalkeeper Alyssa Montero.
The sophomore keeper turned away a breakaway scoring chance by deflecting
Shekema McCarthy's (Sr., Davis, Calif.) low strike wide of the goal in the first half. The breakaway was set up by a heady play by
Jordan Bodily (Sr., Eagle, Idaho), who took advantage of a fallen Bruin defender by sending a ball ahead into space that McCarthy was able to chase down. Four minutes earlier, McCarthy had another one-vs.-one opportunity but sent her shot wide of the goal.
Late in the second half, Montero was again in the spotlight. In the 85th minute, Bodily won a ball on the defensive end, carried to midfield, then sent a pass ahead to Green to start a two-on-one break. Green centered the ball to
Sarah Tuffey, who put a strong foot on it near the edge of the penalty box, only to have a charging Montero lay out and absorb the shot, keeping goose eggs on the scoreboard. Montero finished with 12 saves on the night.
“Yes, the goalkeeper was outstanding,” said Christian, “but we've got to finish our chances. Too many times, too many opportunities that were one-v-one, regardless of good defending the forward should have the advantage. If we don't finish them off, we're going to get killed by other teams.”
Pacific goalkeeper
Brittany Hartmann had a relatively easy night with three saves, none particularly troublesome, thanks to strong play in the midfield by Bodily,
Kaitlyn Harper (Jr., Oregon City, Ore.) and
Bryanna DeLima (Sr., Hilo, Hawaii), with
Teri Shigeno (Sr., Meridian, Idaho) leading the way on the defensive line.
The Boxers continue a three-game NWC home stretch against Whitworth in the first game of a doubleheader, Saturday Sept. 17 at noon. The Boxers men take on Whitworth at 2:30 p.m. at Lincoln Park Stadium in game two.
