GEORGE FOX 4, NW CHRISTIAN 0: Efficient Bruins Make Chances Count to Beat Beacons
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – Sawyer Meek scored a pair of second-half goals and rookie keepers Luke Ridder and Ricardo Sotelo combined for a 4-0 shutout of the Northwest Christian University Beacons, giving the George Fox University Bruins their initial win of the season in a non-conference men's soccer clash Monday here at Mike Kelly Field.
The Bruins jumped out to a quick lead as they needed just one minute and 12 seconds to score what would amount to the game-winner, Luke Dickens firing home a 20-yard unassisted strike from the left. It was his first goal of the season.
The 1-0 score held through the rest of the first half and eight minutes into the second when Brandon Zebarth made it 2-0 with a 10-yard strike, his first score of the season, following a cross from Angelo Fotinopoulos.
Meek added his first goal of the season in the 53rd minute, scoring from five yards away with help from a cross by Joel Schierman and a flick on by Fotinopoulos. He added a second tally nine minutes from the end when Luke Hammer's shot was deflected to him for an open-net punch-in.
Frustrated by an inability to finish numerous opportunities in their season-opening 2-0 loss to Lawrence University three nights earlier, the Bruins were a model of efficiency against NCU, cashing in four times on only seven shots on goal. The Bruins took 14 shots in all to 10, three on goal, for the Beacons, and held a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Ridder had one save in the opening stanza and Sotelo two stops in the final half to post the whitewash. Max Torres had two saves and Erik Carrazco one in goal for the Beacons.
NEXT: George Fox (1-1) plays two games in southern California this weekend, meeting California Lutheran University Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and the University of La Verne Sunday at 11:30 a.m. … Northwest Christian (0-1) plays in the Red Lion CCC/Frontier Challenge in Spokane, Wash., taking on the University of Great Falls Friday, followed by a clash with No. 22 (NAIA) Rocky Mountain College Saturday. Both games will kick off at 4:00 pm.
