By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Jett Starr (So., F, Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) scored a goal for Willamette University just 3:53 after the opening kickoff, and it was all the offense the Bearcats needed in a 1-0 win over George Fox University, on Saturday, Oct. 23 at Sparks Field. WU goalkeeper Pierluca Carnovale (So., GK, Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) contributed five saves while earning the shutout win.

The Bearcats upped their record to 9-3-1 overall, including 7-2-1 in the NWC. Carnovale improved to 8-3-1 in goal with 44 saves and a 1.27 goals against average. George Fox dropped to 4-10-0 overall, 2-8-0 in the NWC.

Willamette controlled much of the early action. The Bearcats took a corner kick at the 3:42 mark and Willamette retained possession when the ball curled out of the GFU penalty area. Omar Dominguez Pascasio (Sr., D, Madras, OR/Madras HS) caught up with the ball about 28 yards from goal and tapped it to Samuel Twenhafel (So., D, Anchorage, AK/South Anchorage HS), who crossed it from 35 yards into the 18-yard box. Mack van der Velde (Sr., D, Voorhout, Neth./Summit HS, Bend, OR) headed the ball from 15 yards on the right side, and Starr headed the ball again at the top of the 6-yard box. The shot beat GFU goalkeeper Alex Muir as it went into the right corner of the net.

Sean Kim (So., F, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) registered a shot for Willamette at 9:56, but it went wide left. A shot by Joshua Chang of George Fox was blocked by the WU defense at 14:40. Andrew Reed (Fy., M, Portland, OR/Franklin HS) of Willamette created a shot at 18:08 that forced a save from Muir. Carnovale recorded a save for the Bearcats on a free kick at 24:56 and made a diving deflection of a shot late in the half at 44:55.

Willamette held a 6-3 edge over the Bruins in total shots at halftime, but each team had two shots on goal. The Bearcats ended the half with a 6-0 margin in corner kicks.

The Bearcats outshot George Fox 7-3 in the second half, but couldn't find an insurance goal. Kim took a shot at 46:10 that was saved by Muir. Max Berner-Hays (Sr., D, Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) placed a shot on target at 53:29 that led to another save for Muir. Later, Muir stopped a shot from Reed at 62:27.

Carnovale also provided three saves in the second half. He rejected a shot by Simon Dye at 60:29, kept a shot by Isaac Nakayama from reaching the net at 65:20, and deflected a long shot by Nakayama with three seconds left. Carnovale's last-second save sent the ball wide of the goal as time expired.

Willamette gained a 13-6 overall advantage in shots during the game, as both teams recorded five shots on target. The Bearcats finished with a 7-0 lead in corner kicks.

The Bearcats will play at Pacific University in another NWC game on Sunday, Oct. 24. The action is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. (PDT) in Forest Grove, Oregon.