NEWBERG, Ore. –
Lena de Guzman's goal in the 83rd minute halved Whitman College's deficit but a last minute attempt for the equalizer didn't materialize as the Missionaries fell, 2-1, to host George Fox University in Northwest Conference women's soccer action on a rainy Sunday at the Austin Sports Complex.
The Missionaries (1-9-5, 1-5-5 NWC) gained a corner kick opportunity in the final seconds but the Bruins (5-8-2, 3-7-1) were able to keep Whitman from converting the chance into a game-tying shot before the horn.
de Guzman's goal, her third of the season, came at the 82:52 mark off a cross to the back post from
Olivia Thomson. The shot was the 20th of the contest by a Whitman player during an outing in which it out shot the host by a 20-13 margin. Eleven of the Missionaries' shots were on frame but the goalkeeper combination of Kelsey Kammerzell and Morgan Bars was able to stop all but de Guzman's shot from finding the netting.
Whitman generated the first three shots on goal in the game.
Clara Merlino's came just 41 seconds in with a shot from
Alissa Soo in the seventh minute and one from de Guzman in the 12th sparking the attack.
George Fox registered the next three shots on goal, however, with the third resulting in the game's first goal. The Bruins' Sarah Tuemmler collected a loose ball that had deflected off a player in the box and slotted it behind Whitman keeper
Haley Case late in the 39th minute.
A de Guzman shot in the 42nd required a save from Fox's Bars and the following transition up field turned into what would be the back breaker for Whitman.
Similar to their first goal the Bruins were able to get a foot on a deflected ball near the goal mouth with Ashley Behrens taking her turn this time in poking an easy shot into a near empty net just before the horn sounded to end the first half.
Whitman ripped six shots on goal over the final 45 minutes but each time the scoring chance was stalled by a save from the Bruins' netminders. In the Missionaries' defensive third Case came up with a pair of stops on the only two shots on frame she faced.
The conference slate continues for Whitman in its next two outings, a pair of home games at the Whitman Athletics Fields. Saturday's noon contest brings Willamette University to Walla Walla followed by Linfield College on Sunday at noon.
