Boxers and Bruins Battle thru 2 Overtimes to Deadlock

George Fox University Athletics

FOREST GROVE, Ore. - Getting the second half of Northwest Conference play off to an undecided start, the visiting George Fox University Bruins and the Pacific University Boxers battled through 90 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute overtimes to a 1-1 tie in a women’s soccer match Wednesday night here at Lincoln Park Stadium.

Pacific got on the board first with a goal by Jaymie Komo, assisted by Tianna Homad and Jenny Novak. It was her first of the season, and came in the 32nd minute of an evenly-played first half. The Bruins had nine shots, two on goal, in the first 20 minutes, while the Boxers took 11 shots in all, five on goal.

George Fox picked up the offensive pace in the second half, out-shooting Pacific 12-5 in the period, with seven shots on goal to only one for the home team. The Bruins knotted the match 1-1 when Melanie Gaither drilled home a shot from five yards out to the opposite corner in the 68th minute. The unassisted goal was her second score of the year.

The best opportunity either team had to score in regulation play thereafter was a shot by Pacific’s Ashley Kanda that hit the crossbar in the 82nd minute. The Bruins’ Kirsten Cardwell had a shot as the second half expired, but it was stopped by Pacific keeper Brittany Hartmann.

George Fox had the best chance in the first overtime when a shot by Esther Harder hit the crossbar 6:45 into the period. Pacific got three shots in the second overtime, one wide and the other two snared by keeper Alyssa Montero.

The Bruins finished with a 22-20 edge in shots, a 10-8 advantage in shots on goal, and a 6-5 margin in corner kicks. Jenny Novak led Pacific with eight shots, while Nicole Akiu had six to lead George Fox. Hartmann made nine saves for the Boxers, while Becka Doyle had four saves for the Bruins in the first half and Montero made three saves in the second half and overtimes.

NEXT: George Fox (3-7-3, NWC 2-6-1) returns home to the Austin Sports Complex to play Willamette University Saturday at 12:00 noon ... The game will be part of a soccer doubleheader, as the Bruin men will host Linfield College at 2:30 p.m. following the women’s contest ... Pacific (5-6-2, NWC 5-3-1) plays its next three on the road, starting with a 12:00 noon game Sunday at Linfield College.

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