Linfield pulls out soaker over Pacific

MCMINNVILLE – The Pacific Boxers brought a bit of a gift for their hosts in Wednesday night’s Northwest Conference women’s soccer match against Linfield, and it ended up being the difference in the game.

The Boxers were charged with an own-goal in the 11th minute of the contest, and though they got one back just before the intermission, Emily Fellows’ header at the one-hour mark put the ‘Cats up for good in a drizzly 2-1 victory.

It’s the Wildcats first soaker on a natural pitch this season, and head Cole McCool explained that, in such inhospitable conditions, any win is a good one.

“It’s cold, it’s sloppy, it’s muddy, it’s wet,” he said. “So just winning in general is successful. We’ll take it.”

Linfield’s first tally of the match came off a corner kick from Emma Vukic which Lauren Pyrch put a head on. Her ball deflected off of a Pacific player and into the net.

After giving up the equalizer just before heading to the locker room, Linfield came out and pressured hard in the final period, with Rachel Gernhart playing in a cross that found Fellows in front of the net to set the final score.

“The second half was fantastic,” McCool said.

Linfield (9-3, 6-3 NWC) hosts Willamette on Saturday at noon.