Bruins Surge Past Bearcats

SALEM, Ore. — Willamette fell to George Fox University 20–9 on Sunday at Sparks Field. The Bearcats (2–2) managed four goals in the final quarter, including one player-up goal, but could not overcome George Fox's (5–1) early lead. George Fox capitalized on six player-up goals throughout the game, securing a decisive victory.

The first quarter opened with a back-and-forth battle between Willamette and George Fox. George Fox struck first with Lana Davis scoring a player-down goal at 9:42. Sasha Thayer extended the lead to 2-0 with a goal assisted by Ava Bluhm. Willamette responded as Shelby Wilkinson, assisted by Priya Mistry, found the net at 7:25 to cut the deficit. Alex Warfel then equalized the score at 6:20 with a free-position goal. However, George Fox reclaimed control, with goals from Alli Stilp and another from Davis, who capitalized on a free-position shot. Claire Abraham capped the quarter with a late goal, assisted by Bluhm, to give George Fox a 5-2 lead at the break.

George Fox extended its lead over the Bearcats with a dominant second quarter, outscoring the home team 8-1. Alli Stilp opened the scoring with a goal at 13:05, assisted by Lana Davis. Willamette briefly responded with a goal from Warfel at 12:44, but George Fox quickly regained control. Ava Bluhm, Merrick Gibson, and Davis each added multiple goals, with Gibson scoring a player-up goal at 5:21 and again at 0:56. Davis capped the quarter with a goal at 0:11, bringing her total to 29 for the season.

Syd Shoemaker initiated the third quarter with a goal for the Bearcats at 14:31, marking her eighth of the season. George Fox responded swiftly, with Gibson scoring a player-up goal at 13:13. Mistry, assisted by Alexandra Miller, added another for Willamette at 11:34, but George Fox's offensive effort intensified with goals from Thayer and Abraham. Despite the Bearcats' attempts to regain momentum through strategic timeouts and defensive efforts, George Fox concluded the quarter with a goal by Abraham, assisted by Davis, to secure a 17-5 lead.

Stilp of George Fox opened the fourth quarter by securing a draw control and quickly scoring, increasing their lead. The Bearcats responded with a player-up goal by Warfel from a free position shot at 10:11, bringing the score to 18-6. Mistry added to Willamette's tally at 8:05 with a goal assisted by Shoemaker, narrowing the gap. George Fox answered with goals from Davis and Bluhm, both assisted, pushing their lead to 20-7. Willamette's Wilkinson then capitalized on a free position shot at 2:00, and Mistry scored another, concluding the quarter with George Fox leading 20-9.

Up next for the Bearcats is a home game against Pomona-Pitzer on Tuesday, March 17. The matchup is set for 3 p.m. in Salem, Oregon.