SALEM, ORE. -- Conor Costigan (Fr., F, Hillsboro, OR/Glencoe HS) scored in the 52nd minute to pull Willamette University into a 1-1 tie with George Fox University, then neither team scored during the remainder of regulation and two sudden-death overtime periods, as the Bearcats and the Bruins finished in a draw at Sparks Field on Wednesday, Oct. 10. Willamette moved to 2-9-2 overall, 0-7-1 in the Northwest Conference. George Fox ended the game at 3-8-2, 1-5-2 in the NWC.
Keith Marshall gave George Fox a 1-0 lead with a goal at the 25:56 mark. Marshall's shot was from 15 yards in the middle of the penalty area. The Bruins continued to lead by a single goal at halftime.
Costigan's goal hit the net at 51:24 to equalize for the Bearcats. Senior midfielder Trevor Jones (Portland, OR/Grant HS) received an assist on the play. Costigan shot from the top of the penalty box and sent the ball into the upper right corner of the goal.
WU outshot the Bruins 15-13 in regulation, but GFU earned a 5-1 advantage in shots during overtime to finish the game with an 18-16 edge over the Bearcats. Even so, Willamette held a 7-6 advantage in shots on goal. George Fox achieved an 11-8 margin in corner kicks, including a combined 4-0 during the two overtime periods.
Mark Bennett (So., GK, Salt Lake City, UT/West HS) recorded five saves for Willamette. Kyle Putnam earned six saves for the Bruins.
The final 10 minutes of regulation featured three shots and two corner kicks by the Bearcats, plus two shots by George Fox. A shot by WU's Greg Beasley (Fr., F, Camas, WA/Camas HS) at 85:50 required Putnam to register a save and Bennett had to make a save for the 'Cats at 89:30 on a shot by Justin Meyer.
Bennett also stopped a shot by Bret Hamilton of GFU with just under a minute left in the first overtime. Casey Dineen (So., MF, Portland, OR/Jesuit HS) was credited with the game's final shot on goal, which was saved by Putnam with 50 seconds left in the match. GFU had the last chance on a corner kick with 22 seconds to go, but the Bruins were unable to get a shot.
The Bearcats will conclude a three-game homestand on Saturday, Oct. 13, when they host the University of Puget Sound. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. (PDT). Puget Sound is 10-1 overall (5-1 NWC) and is ranked #11 by D3Kicks.com.
BOX SCORE
Willamette University tied George Fox University, 1-1 (2 OT)Conor Costigan scored the game-tying goal against George Fox. It was his second goal of the season.
