McKenna Davidson provided an assist on the Boxers' game-winning goal Sunday afternoon, crossing a ball in front of the net to Kara Lankey.
FOREST GROVE, Ore.—Thanks to a strong first-half goal, the Pacific University women's soccer squad both a talented Corban University team and hot temperatures in a 1-0 win at Hanson Stadium.
The temperatures climbed into the upper 80's in Forest Grove Sunday, giving both teams an additional challenge on the pitch.
"On extremely hot days like this it's hard for the game to go at breakneck speed," said Pacific head coach
Morgan Joseph. "But I enjoyed the chess match that it turned out to be and the way our girls adapted to the conditions and the other team. Our defenders have earned a new level of respect from me and I'm excited to see them perform again."
The Boxers opened scoring in the 30th minute when
Kara Lankey (So., La Canada, Calif.) finished a cross from
McKenna Davidson (Jr., Kailua Kona, Hawaii) for her second goal of the season. Davidson held the ball on the left side of the box and saw Lankey making a run to the far post. She sent the ball to meet Lankey, and the forward finished off the play from within a yard of the goal, giving the Boxers a 1-0 lead.
"It was a perfect 10 game for McKenna," said Joseph of the junior forward. "But her individual brilliance to set up Kara was magic. Kara's raw grit and desire to get on the end of it proved once more how dangerous these two are."
Earlier in the first half, Corban tallied the first shot of the match when Katelyn Fekkes sent a hard ball towards the Pacific goal. The shot headed straight for Boxer keeper
Kristina Morris (So., Molalla, Ore.), however, and Morris caught it to keep the Warriors off the board.
Morris made another big save in the 27
th minute to keep Corban scoreless. A Warrior player sent a cross into the box where Karissa Starks was waiting for it. Starks got a shot off from two yards out, but Morris dove to her left and pushed the ball out for a corner before it could enter the net. Â
The Boxers kept up the pressure to begin the second half. Â
Emily Tuffey (Sr., Valencia, Calif.) sent in a shot from 25 yards out. Corban keeper Sheyenne Brusven came out and made the save, but she couldn't catch it cleanly and the ball fell to Pacific midfielder
Deanna Quadrel (So., Richland, Wash.). Quadrel took an attempt at the volley, but the shot went wide of the net.
In the 65
th minute, Corban saw a good chance for a score. A corner kick bounced free in the box to No. 12 of Corban, who crossed it to an open Olivia Erskine. Erskine tried to head the ball past new Pacific goalie
Megan Green (So., Albany, Ore.) but couldn't keep the shot down. It sailed a foot over the bar and out for a corner.
Corban saw a couple more chances to even the match in the final 10 minutes, but the Boxer defense stood tough and preserved the clean sheet and the win.
"Corban is a very good team with an excellent coach," said Pacific associate head coach Dane Joseph. "We knew we had to be organized and focused on doing our individual jobs. Huge kudos to Nicki (
Nicholle Leeming, Sr., Las Vegas, Nev.) and Sydney (
Sydney Virgen, Fr., Richland, Wash.) for controlling the tempo of the game. They played a huge role in our overall success."
Pacific (2-1-0) now closes out its non-conference slate of games Thurs., Sept. 11, at 7:00 p.m. The Boxers host Warner Pacific again at Hanson Stadium. That match will be the tail-end of a doubleheader between the two schools' soccer programs. The two men's squads will play earlier in the day at 4:00 p.m.
