Boxers Beat Bruins in Northwest Conference Opener

09/18/2008 - article care of Blair Cash - George Fox University

WHAT'S BRUIN: Weekly News & Notes
Women's Soccer
Overall Record: 4-0 (Home 2-0, Road 2-0)
Northwest Conference Record: 0-0 (Home 0-0, Road 0-0)

Coming Up - Northwest Conference Play Begins:
Fri., Sept. 19, 7:00 p.m. - at Lewis & Clark College Pioneers, Portland, Ore. (1-0-3, NWC 0-0)
Sun., Sept. 21, 12:00 p.m. - vs. University of Puget Sound Loggers, Newberg, Ore. (2-1, NWC 0-0)

The Bruins' mettle will be tested this weekend as they open up Northwest Conference play at Lewis & Clark Friday night and at home Sunday against Puget Sound. The Pioneers were picked to finish 9th in the pre-season NWC coaches poll, but have proven themselves a force to be reckoned with behind a defense that, like the Bruins, has not allowed a goal this season - the Pios have a 1-0 win and three 0-0 ties. Goalkeeper Kate MacDougall has posted four shutouts and made 19 saves.

The Loggers won the NWC last year while going 21-2-1 (the tie was a 0-0 deadlock with George Fox) and reaching the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. A heavy favorite to repeat as league champs in the pre-season poll, UPS returns both the NWC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in forward Janece Levien and goalkeeper Kallie Wolfer. Levien is the league leader in points (11), goals (5), and shots (31).

BRUIN BITS ---
Bruins Set Records for Opening Wins and Consecutive Shutouts:
With their 2-0 win over the Northwest Christian Beacons on Tuesday night in Eugene, Ore., the George Fox Bruins established a new record for the best start to a women's soccer season ever. Since their first season in 1991, only three Bruin teams had ever started a year 3-0 (1997, 1998, and 1999), and each of them faltered with a loss in their fourth game. The Bruins picked up their historic victory with first-half goals by Molly Schaefer and Kirsten Cardwell and another stellar defensive performance that allowed the Beacons only six total shots and only three on goal.

Posting the shutout against NCU in her first college appearance was freshman Becka Doyle, who recorded three saves. The Bruins also posted shutouts in their first three games of the season (1-0 wins over Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech and a 2-0 win at Eastern Oregon), with junior Sally Page earning all three whitewashes while making 13 saves. The four consecutive shutouts is also a team record, as the Bruins had never before strung together more than two in a row.

McKinsey Wins BAA, NWC Offensive Honors; Page HM for Defense:
Junior forward Jenny McKinsey has been named the Bruin Athletic Association Women's Athlete of the Week and the Northwest Conference Women's Soccer Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week for Sept. 8-14. She scored both game-winning goals in the Bruins' 1-0 victory over Oregon Tech at home on Sept. 8 and the 2-0 win at Eastern Oregon on Sept. 10. She scored on a second-half penalty kick to win the OIT game, and scored 39 seconds into the EOU contest. She also assisted on Anna Russell's insurance goal in the EOU game. McKinsey, a Second Team All-NWC pick last year, is currently the NWC leader in game-winning goals (3), tied for the lead in goals (3) and points (7), and 3rd in the league in shots (17). She was also honorable mention for NWC Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week for Sept. 1-7 after scoring the winning goal in the Bruins' season-opening 1-0 win over Southern Oregon.

Junior goalkeeper Sally Page received honorable mention for Northwest Conference Women's Soccer Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week for Sept. 8-14 for posting shutouts in the Bruins' 1-0 win over Oregon Tech and 2-0 win at Eastern Oregon. She had four saves in the OIT game and four at EOU, going the full 90 minutes in both games. Page is tied for the league lead in goals-against average (0.00) and save percentage (1.000), and is 2nd in shutouts (3) and 7th in saves (13). She was also honorable mention for NWC Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week for Sept. 1-7 with a shutout and six saves in the Bruins' season-opening 1-0 win over Southern Oregon.

2008 Honors:
Jenny McKinsey ---
* Bruin Athletic Association Women's Athlete of the Week - (Sept. 8-14) * Northwest Conference Women's Soccer Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week - (HM, Sept. 1-7; Sept. 8-14)

Sally Page ---
* Northwest Conference Women's Soccer Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week - (HM, Sept. 1-7; HM, Sept. 8-14)

Records Set or Tied in 2008:
* Most Consecutive Wins, Start of Season - 4 (9/6-16/2008); previous record of 3 (1997, 1998, 1999) * Most Consecutive Shutouts - 4 (9/6-16/2008); previous record of 2 (many times)

NWC Stats: Bruins Top Defensive Numbers in Early Going
In the latest Northwest Conference statistics (thru Sept. 17), George Fox ranks 1st in fewest goals allowed (0, tie), lowest goals-against average (0.00, tie), shutouts (4, tie), 2nd in shots (74), assists (5, tie), assists per game (1.25, tie), 3rd in points (17), goals (6), goals per game (1.50), 7th in saves (16, tie) ... Jenny McKinsey is 1st in game-winning goals (3), 2nd in points (7), goals (3, tie), 3rd in shots (17), pojnts per game (1.75), goals per game (0.75), 4th in shots per game (4.25) ... Kirsten Cardwell is 3rd in assists (2, tie), 4th in assists per game (0.50, tie), 6th in shots (12, tie), shots per game (3.00), 7th in points (4, tie), points per game (1.00, tie) ... Anna Russell is 3rd in assists (2, tie), 4th in assists per game (0.50, tie), 6th in shots (12, tie), shots per game (3.00), 7th in points (4, tie), points per game (1.00, tie) ... Sally Page is 1st in fewest goals allowed (0, tie), goals-against average (0.00, tie), save percentage (1.000, tie), 2nd in shutouts (3), 7th in saves per game (4.33), 8th in saves (13) ...

Coach Andy Hetherington:
Andy Hetherington (St. John's, U.K., '76) is 41-72-6 (.370) in his 7th season as the women's soccer coach at George Fox. He was 123-20-5 in 10 seasons as a high school coach in the Portland, Ore., area before taking the position at George Fox. Eight of his teams made state tournaments, and his 1991 and 1992 Catlin Gabel men's teams won state championships. Click here for the complete bio on Coach Hetherington.