TACOMA, Wash. - Playing their final home game of 2009, the Puget
Sound Loggers did their best to keep a five-match unbeaten streak
alive but an own goal in the 81st minute propelled the Pacific
Boxers to a 1-0 victory in a Northwest Conference men's soccer
match on Sunday afternoon on Peyton Field at Baker Stadium in
Tacoma, Wash.
In the first half, both offenses had opportunities but the host
Loggers were unable to put either of their two shots on net and the
Boxers couldn't push any of their seven shots past freshman keeper
Chris McDonald (Newton, Mass./Noble & Greenough).
The Loggers held a 4-2 advantage on corner kicks in the first
half but the stingy Boxer defense prevented Puget Sound from
gaining any real opportunities to score.
In the second half, the Logger defense clamped down, limiting
the Boxers to just four shots. The Logger offense tried to
pick up the pace, adding three shots in the final 45 minutes but
Pacific keeper Andrew Stevermer stopped the only Logger shot on
goal.
The game winner came in the 81st minute when Pacific took a free
kick from about 35 yards out on the sideline and the ball deflected
off the head of a Puget Sound defender and into the net for an own
goal.
The match was a physical one with 31 combined fouls called and
four yellow cards shown, two to each team.
The Loggers will conclude the 2009 season on Saturday when they
travel the short distance to Pacific Lutheran to take on the Lutes,
beginning at 1:30 p.m.