Sheakley Scores Twice as Boxers Take Down Wildcats

FOREST GROVE, Ore.- Cooper Sheakley (Freshman/Happy Valley, OR) netted a brace to lift the Pacific University men's soccer team over Linfield on Sunday afternoon. The Boxers would cruise to the 2-0 victory and earn all three points in Northwest Conference competition.
 
Pacific (4-4-1, 1-2-1 NWC) proved to be the much

better side, looking very dynamic going forward and enjoying majority of the scoring chances. The Boxers registered nine shots with six on target while winning seven corner kicks. Linfield (1-7-0, 0-4-0 NWC) struggled to gain a foothold in the match and were trapped in by Pacific's high pressing. The visitors managed just five shots with only one on frame.
 
Sheakley got the Boxers on the board in the 4^th minute when the freshman finished off a brilliant attacking move by the hosts. Lucas Muller (Senior/Independence, OR) did well to drive down the right wing and squared the ball across to Sheakley, who tapped into an open net to open the scoring. 
 
Despite the bright start, Pacific were unable to find a second goal in the first 45 minutes and would go into the locker room with a 1-0 advantage.
 
Linfield had their best chance to equalize shortly after halftime when Cesar Cruz-Espindola fired a shot from close range but Zachary Aderinto (Freshman/Kailua-Kona, HI) came up clutch with a fantastic save to deny the Wildcats' forward.
 
The Wildcats threatened once again just a minute later when Maximus Van Eaton tried his luck from distance but his shot would strike the cross bar.
 
Pacific showed their dominance and doubled their lead in the 59^th minute when Noah Edwards (Freshman/Honolulu, HI) flicked his header into the path of Sheakley, sending the freshman through on goal. Sheakley showed excellent composure and found the bottom corner to make it 2-0.
 
Some solid defending for the final 30 minutes would see the Boxers to a 2-0 victory, ending a four-match winless streak.
 
By The Numbers
 

• Sheakley, the Boxers' leading goal-scorer, netted his fourth and fifth goals of the season.
• Edwards dished out his fifth assist of the season, leading the team in that category.
• Today's win snaps a two-game losing streak against the Wildcats.

 
Up Next
 
Pacific begins a three-game road trip on Oct. 2 when the Boxers head to Spokane, Wash. to face Whitworth.
 
For the latest information on Pacific Athletics, make sure to check out GoBoxers.com. You can also find the Boxers on social media at @GoBoxers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
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