George Fox Scores against Run of Play to Slip Past Bearcats, 1-0

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University outshot George Fox University, 17-7, in total shots, including 9-2 in shots on goal, but the Bruins escaped Sparks Field with a 1-0 win on Sunday, Sept. 30 in men's soccer action after scoring on a counter-attack with 7:36 left in the game.

With the Bearcats pushing forward, George Fox was able to gain control of the ball with just under eight minutes left and pass it quickly into the midfield.

Gabe Louthan then played the ball through to Myles Sorokovsky, who beat a defender at the top of the penalty box. Sorokovsky tallied the goal on a shot from 15 yards into the right corner of the net.

George Fox picked up its first win of the season, as the Bruins improved to 1-9-1 overall, 1-5 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 4-6-1 on the season, 1-4-1 in the NWC.

Willamette kept significant pressure on GFU starting goalkeeper Elliott Davis in the first half. The Bearcats took nine shots during the half, including seven shots on goal. Davis recorded seven saves to keep the score 0-0 at halftime. The Bruins took five shots in the first half, but forced Willamette goalie Brayden Calder (Fr., Philomath, OR/Philomath HS) to make just one save.

The Bearcats continued to develop chances to score, as Willamette earned eight shots over the final 45 minutes, but only two of the shots were on target. Elliott added two saves for a total of nine to nearly-register a complete-game shutout. Davis left the field briefly with an injury at 82:40, only 16 seconds after the Bruins scored.

Luis Angel Del Rio took over in goal for George Fox for just over four minutes before Davis returned to action at 85:52.

In addition to earning a sizable advantage in shots, the Bearcats claimed a 10-2 margin in corner kicks, including a 6-0 edge in the second half.

The game included a total of 33 fouls, with 17 on Willamette and 16 on George Fox. There were six yellow cards given out, with three to GFU players, two to Willamette players and one on the Bruins' bench.

Willamette will be back in action on Saturday, Sept. 6 in a Northwest Conference game at archrival Linfield College. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. (PDT).