NEWBERG, Ore. – The first collegiate goal by freshman Michayla Sponsel paired with a nine-save effort from Sarah Bailey to power the Linfield Wildcats to a 1-1 draw with George Fox Saturday afternoon at Austin Sports Complex.
 
1st Half
Each team was held quiet in the opening period. Bailey was called to action late in the half, stopping a hard shot by George Fox's Michala Dean with a minute left on the clock to preserve the shutout.
 
2nd Half
Linfield got on the board just four minutes into the second stanza, as Sponsel galloped up from her center back position and re-directed a corner kick with her head toward the back of the Bruins' net, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 advantage.
 
Linfield's lead would hold for 20 minutes until Chloe Shumaker collected a Kacie Morgan pass to bring the contest back level pegging in the 70th minute.
 
Overtime
Despite the draw, the Bruins outshot the Wildcats 5-0 through the two overtime periods. Bailey was superb in the extra sessions, making four saves.
 
Linfield Ledger
Emma Smith and Carole Thomas led the 'Cats in shots with five and four, respectively. Bailey ended the afternoon with nine saves. Starting center midfielder Natalie Amara picked up the assist on Sponsel's goal as she delivered the decisive corner kick in the 49th minute.
 
Top Bruins
George Fox goalkeeper Kelsey Kammerzel recorded four saves on 17 Linfield shots. Emma Logan tallied a team-high four shots, but just one found its way to the target.
 
What It Means
The first Linfield draw of the season puts the 'Cats in a three-way tie for fourth place with a 2-2-1 NWC record. They currently sit at 4-4-1 overall. As for George Fox, the Bruins another team to share fourth place. They improved to 4-3-1 this season.
 
Next
Linfield returns home to face off against Pacific Sunday at noon at the Linfield Soccer Field.