MCMINNVILLE, Ore. — Linfield and Lewis & Clark fought to a 0-0 draw in a hard-fought Northwest Conference matchup Wednesday evening at Linfield Soccer Complex. Both teams displayed impressive defensive ability, with neither side able to find the back of the net despite numerous attempts.
Linfield goalkeeper
Alexa Fritz was instrumental in preserving the shutout, making a total of four saves on six shots faced. Fritz's first major test came early in the 7th minute when she denied Lewis & Clark forward Ava Lazzara's close-range shot aimed at the bottom left corner. Fritz continued to be a steady presence in goal, also stopping shots from Celeste Schreifels and Grace Smith, who each managed attempts on target. Schreifels recorded two shots in total, one of which Fritz parried away in the 63rd minute, halting a strong push by the Pioneers.
Offensively, Linfield generated five shots throughout the match, with
Jocelyn Jacobs recording the team's only shot on goal in the 21st minute. Jacobs' effort was on target but saved by Lewis & Clark's goalkeeper, Anna Ingadottir, who finished with one save over the full 90 minutes.
Reese Jones,
Lize Rendon, and
Mia Curtaz also contributed offensively, each recording a shot attempt that just missed the mark. Jones' shot in the 39th minute and Curtaz's late attempt in the 89th both came close, with Curtaz's effort sailing just over the top of the goal.
Linfield earned two corner kicks in the first half, both defended well by Lewis & Clark's backline. The Pioneers led in corner kicks with three, including two in the second half that posed potential threats, but Linfield's defense, anchored by defenders
Sofia Pietrok and
Rae Gerking, held firm.
With the draw, Linfield moves to 4-7-6 overall and 3-7-4 in the Northwest Conference.
NEXT
Linfield looks forward to senior day next Saturday at 1:45 p.m. against the Willamette Bearcats at the Linfield Soccer Complex.
