NEWBERG, Ore. – A late first half goal was enough to lift George Fox to a 1-0 win over visiting Whitworth in a Northwest Conference men's soccer match on Sunday at Austin Sports Complex.
The Pirates (4-11-3 overall, 2-9-3 NWC) mustered just two shots on goal in their final road match of the season. The Bruins moved to 4-10-3, 4-8-3 NWC.
Both teams pressured the opposing defense in a back-and-forth first half. Whitworth sent six shots toward goal in the first 10 minutes of play, one of those on goal from Zephyr Wall. GFU returned the favor by recording the next six shots, also one on target with no score.
Both defenses settled in and prevented damage until the Bruins broke through in the 43rd minute as Aiden Brouddus fed Carson Tapia for his fourth goal of the season.
George Fox held a 12-6 shot advantage in the second half but the Pirates held tough and kept the deficit at one while pushing for a game-tying goal. Whitworth possessed the ball in their attacking third for much of the final 10 minutes and sent four shots toward net in the match's final stages, including a header on goal from Connor Bly that was saved by Bruin goalkeeper Chase Nelson. The George Fox defense held on for a senior day win.
Lucas Waarvick, Lucas Joehnk, and Wall led the Pirate attack with three shots each. Henrik Dahlgren made the start in net and made six saves in the full 90-minute effort.
Tapia led all players with seven shots and Zac LeVin added five to lead the Bruins. Nelson earned his second shutout.
The Whitworth men will close the season at home next weekend against Pacific Lutheran and Puget Sound.
