SPOKANE, Wash. – Cole Friesen scored Whitworth's second hat trick of the weekend and tallied an assist adding to his record pace, Beckett Arthur scored two goals and Chris Barry tallied two assists as Whitworth routed visiting George Fox 7-0 on Saturday.
Friesen scored goals in the 11th, 38th, and 40th minute as the Pirates jumped out to a 5-0 halftime lead. Friesen's first goal was set up by a perfect touch pass from Barry, his second was also assisted by a long pass from Barry which Friesen calmly gathered amidst multiple Bruin defenders before sliding it through the net. Friesen claimed the hat trick by swiping a telegraphed pass off the toes of George Fox keeper Keoni Gavino.
Whitworth (8-3-1 overall, 6-1-1 NWC) has won six straight matches and has yet to lose at home this season. Friesen has now scored 16 goals (including two or more goals in each of the last five matches) putting him alone at the top of the conference, and just three goals shy of Whitworth's all-time single season record. The record of 20 is currently held by assistant coach Karl Muelheims.
Arthur scored his first goal in the 22nd minute with a header to the top right corner of the net before striking again with a rocket in the 61st minute to put the Pirates ahead 6-0. Andyn Maldanado and Friesen assisted on those goals.
Senior Cameron Gardner scored his first career goal in the 73rd minute, a blast into the left side of the net to give Whitworth's its final goal.
Whitworth smothered the Bruins (3-8-1 overall, 2-5-1 NWC) from the kickoff, outshooting them 19-4 in total shots, 9-3 in shots on goal while controlling 63% of the possession.
The win closed a brilliant weekend for the Pirates in which they outscored their opponents 13-1. They will need more of the same next weekend as they face Pacific Lutheran on October 14th, the team who handed them their lone conference loss.
