Box ScoreFOREST GROVE – For the second match in a row,
Mark Watson, Jr. (Jr., Clackamas, Ore.) provided Pacific's only scoring of the match, but this time his one goal proved enough as the Boxers gave head coach
Eric Mild his first Northwest Conference men's soccer victory of the season with a 1-0 shutout of Linfield Sunday at the Linfield Soccer Field.
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Watson put in his sixth goal of the season and his first game-winner in the 53rd minute.Â
Garrick Knowles (Sr., Roseburg, Ore.) broke away with the ball at mid-field and fed it to
Ian Farley (Sr., Spokane, Wash.), who found Watson near the right post for the goal. Knowles earned credit for his fifth assist of the season while Farley earned his third.
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The goal allowed the Boxers to capitalize on a few number of scoring opportunities provided by the Wildcats. Linfield outshot Pacific 14-6 and limited the Boxers to just two shots on goal. The Wildcats also had a 5-4 advantage on corner kicks.
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The victory snapped a five-match winless streak for the Boxers (4-6-1, 1-4-1 NWC) and ended a two-match losing streak to the Wildcats. An intensely physical match throughout, the teams combined for 24 fouls and six yellow cards.
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Leyton Thommasen (Fr., Des Moines, Wash.) improved to 4-6-1 on the season and collected his third shutout of the season, making six saves. Linfield's Loriaux made one save in the loss as Linfield dropped to 4-5-1, 2-3-1 NWC.
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Pacific will enjoy a light week next week. Their only match will be on Saturday as the Boxers travel to George Fox. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
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