Percival's Bullet Gives Men 3-2 Soccer Win

News Release Date:
Saturday, September 19

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- A 20-yard bullet from Brian Percival early in the second half proved to be the game winner as Whitman College slipped past George Fox 3-2 Saturday afternoon in Northwest Conference soccer action at the Whitman Athletic Fields.

Brian Percival

Percival, a sophomore, drilled his shot on a sharp angle to the far left post in the 60th minute of play, extending Whitman's lead to 3-1. It was his first college goal and made the difference when Brennen Altringer scored for George Fox with less than three minutes left in the game.

Sam Freedman

The contest was the NWC opener for both schools and left Whitman with a 2-2-1 record overall. George Fox is 3-3 overall.

With Altringer providing the assist, Zach Sanders gave George Fox an early 1-0 lead with a scoring strike from the top of the box at the 18:03 mark of the first half. 

Whitman pulled even in the 33rd minute when Sam Freedman, another sophomore, collected his first college goal with an assist from freshman Leland Matthaeus.

The Missionaries inched in front five minutes into the second half when Freedman crashed the left side of the box. George Fox keeper Jake Maguire beat Freedman to the ball and knocked it away, but Freedman collected the rebound a few moments later and chipped the ball to the right post for junior Chris Reid, who headed it home for an easy score.

Whitman outshot the Bruins 22-9, which included a 13-4 edge in shots on goal. Maguire made eight saves for George Fox while his Missionary counterpart, Nic McDonald, made two quality saves. 

Todd Wallenius, a Whitman senior, took seven shots and put four on goal. Percival finished with three shots, two on goal, and five other Missionaries fired off two shots each.

Altringer sparked the George Fox offense with five shots, three on goal.

The Missionaries host Pacific at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Whitman Athletic Fields. Pacific lost 2-1 today to Whitworth in Spokane.

George Fox plays its Sunday afternoon at Whitworth. 

Box score 

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CONTACT: Dave Holden
Sports Information Director
Whitman College, Walla Walla, Wash.
509 527-5902; holden@whitman.edu