Knights Hold Off Late Bruins Surge To Claim Victory
Nick Evans and David Uribe score their first goals in a WPU uniform
Abby Wilson, Sports Information Director
NEWBERG, ORE. – As the kids say, "third times the charm". After a historical winter storm that blanketed the state of Oregon with inches of snow and ice forced Warner Pacific University's match-up against George Fox University to be rescheduled three times, the Knights were finally able to travel south to Newberg on Thursday night. With a 2-1 victory over the Bruins, the Knights start the season 2-0 for the first time in 16 years.
The Valentine's Day weekend "snowpocalypse" limited the squad's ability for training over the past week, which could have been a setback for the Knights, but team captain Hunter VanCleave felt otherwise, "it was actually good because it gave our guys a chance to get healthy!" he said. Just before kickoff, the team gathers at midfield where their "biggest emphasis is always a clean sheet" VanCleave added. "If we don't allow the opponent to score, we're confident in our abilities as a team to find the back of the net" said the Helena, Montana native. The Knights may not have come out with a clean sheet, but they sure did finish with a strong victory, demonstrating the trust VanCleave seems to encourage.
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The Rundown
With the snow melting, the Knights kept their heat streak alive, scoring at least one goal in every match played in 2021. It took both teams a little bit to get into the flow of the game, exchanging possessions before the Knights managed to control the tempo. Unlike last week's match against Linfield, where the Knights finished with 14 shots, their opportunities tonight were nearly cut in half with six. Thirty-Four minutes into the match, Knights senior Nick Evans, from 18-feet out, saw and opening and capitalized, sending the ball across the keeper and finding the lower pocket of the right post. Heading into the intermission, the Knights led the Bruins 1-0.
Just nine minutes into the second half, newcomer David Uribe, fouled in the box, took advantage of the Penalty Kick, expanding the lead to 2-nil. The physicality was evident during the contest, with three yellow cards being distributed between the two teams on 20 fouls. Rounding out the match, George Fox's Jackson Keller was able to meet a ricocheted ball off the post to knock it just past Knights keeper Alexis Calderilla-Hurtado. Adjusting the defense and tightening up, the Knights kept the Bruins off the goal line until the final whistle, pulling off the 2-1 victory over the NCAA Division III opponent.
Deeper Look
Two newcomers to the program (Nick Evans and David Uribe) scored their first goals of their WPU careers
Thursday's win marks a 3-game winning streak over the Bruins
Alexis Calderilla-Hurtado made his first career start in the goal, snatching 4 saves
Flash Forward
Warner Pacific will finish up their on-the-road preseason schedule on Saturday as they face yet another Division III opponent in Pacific University. Kickoff is set for 12pm.