SPOKANE, Wash. - Keith Kirsch scored twice and assisted on another goal to lead Whitworth University to a wild 4-3 win over visiting George Fox University in a Northwest Conference men's soccer match on a rainy Saturday afternoon at the Whitworth Soccer Field.

Kirsch scored twice and assisted once

By avoiding the upset, Whitworth (11-2-1 overall, 9-1 NWC) remained in first place in the NWC standings. The Bruins fell to 3-10-2, 1-7-2.

Carlos Pehr gave George Fox the early lead when he finished a crossing pass from Justin Meyer in the 26th minute for his fifth goal of the season. It was the Bruins' only shot on goal in the half.

Kirsch (Jr., MF, Colbert, Wash.) tied the match in the 30th minute after Curtis Flournoy (Sr., F, Gilbert, Ariz.) dribbled around his defender and drew Bruin keeper Kyle Putnam before dishing to a wide-open Kirsch who finished from point blank range.

Kirsch gave Whitworth its first lead in the 68th minute when he intercepted a ball deep in the George Fox end, dribbled around to the top of the box and fired past Putnam into the lower corner of the net. Kirsch's goals were his fourth and fifth of the year.

But the Bruins' Keith Marshall tied the match only 20 seconds later when his free kick from more than 35 yards bounced into the net after Whitworth keeper Scott Barnum (So., Fall City, Wash.) was effectively screened on the play. It was Marshall's third tally of the season.

Whitworth appeared to have gained the game-winning goal in the 77th minute when Kirsch passed ahead to Caleb Barnhill (Jr., F, Sultan, Wash.) for a breakaway goal, his second this fall.

But in the 82nd minute Meyer pulled GFU back into a tie, this time taking a pass from Pehr and drawing Barnum away from the net before finishing his fourth goal of the season.

But Skye Henderson (Sr., MF, Spokane, Wash.) finally gave Whitworth the winner when he headed home a corner kick by Travis Jette (Jr., D, Missoula, Mont.), scoring his third goal of the year.

Whitworth peppered the Bruin net with 14 shots on goal, but Putnam made several key saves to keep George Fox in the match. Barnum finished with one save as the Bruins were able to score on three of their four shots on net.

The match featured six yellow cards.

Whitworth will look to keep its hold on first place on Sunday, hosting Willamette University at 2:30 p.m. George Fox will travel to Walla Walla to take on Whitman College, also at 2:30 p.m.