KIRKLAND, Wash. – The Corban University men's soccer team captured its second-consecutive Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Tournament Championship on Saturday, coming from behind to defeat the Northwest University Eagles on the road in overtime, 2-1.  With everyone on the pitch contributing to the victory, senior forward Arsinio Walker (Kingston, Jamaica) was the hero for the Warriors, scoring the golden goal game-winner to send the Warriors home victorious and into the NAIA Opening Round.

For Corban, the match marked a number of firsts.  Saturday was the first time Corban was able to defeat Northwest this season, having dropped the previous two contests.  The game also marked the first time of the year in which the Warriors were able to win a match after surrendering the first goal of the game.  Finally, the match was the first time Corban had scored an offensive goal against Northwest on the year, and on Saturday, the Warriors did it twice.

The game started ominously for the Warriors, as in the sixth minute, the Eagles received a penalty-kick via a Warrior foul in the box, and Todd Siedenburg converted the opportunity to put Northwest up, 1-0.

Corban responded with a few chances of its own right away though, not letting the early deficit keep the team down.  Nothing came of those immediate responses, however, and Northwest generated a few more good attacking opportunities as it looked to double its advantage, but Warrior senior goalkeeper Steven Mason (Santa Rosa, Calif.) came up with three phenomenal diving saves to keep the Eagles from scoring again.

The Navy and Gold then took advantage on the other end of the field, as senior midfielder Eliseo Santana (Idaho Falls, Idaho) pounced on a loose ball in the box and blasted home a left-footed half-volley, tying the contest at 1-1.  Senior defender Daniel Fredrickson (Boise, Idaho) was credited with the assist on the play.

During the first 45 minutes, Northwest held the slight shot advantage, 7-6, while also holding the lead in corner-kicks, 4-3.

The second half saw both sides generate a number of fantastic opportunities, and late in the contest, Northwest (15-5-0) came close to winning it on a number of occasions, but once again, the Warrior defense and Mason were up to the challenge.  After Mason sprawled at full stretch to make a diving save to his left, the Warrior defense then saved another shot off the line, keeping the score at 1-1.

Corban then thought it had won the contest with the time winding down on the clock in regulation, as Walker headed home a free kick from sophomore defender Tim Kagey (West Linn, Ore.), but the near-side assistant referee deemed Walker to be offside on the play, negating the goal.

That is how regulation would finish, with the two sides still deadlocked at one score apiece.

With sudden-death overtime awaiting both sides, Corban and Northwest knew that it would take just one chance to win the game and send their side into the NAIA Opening Round.

Just a few minutes into the first overtime stanza, Warrior sophomore forward Bobby Hutchin (Vancouver, Wash.) received a flicked pass behind the Eagles' defense, but Hutchin's one-on-one breakaway shot was saved by Northwest goalkeeper Daniel Christenson, keeping the Eagles alive.

Persistent still, the Warriors did not let up offensively, and midway through overtime, the Navy and Gold earned a throw-in deep in Northwest's defensive half.  After junior defender James Williamson (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) decided to throw the ball in short to senior midfielder Josh Noonkester (Salem, Ore.), the two combined for a give-and-go and Williamson received the return pass down the right touch-line and whipped in a cross along the six-yard box.  The cross found Walker in the middle who one-timed his shot into the back of the net, winning the match for Corban and defending the Warriors CCC Tournament Crown in the process.  For Walker, it was his team-leading 14th goal of the year and fourth game-winner of the season as well.

Watch the full game highlights here:

Following the celebrations, Corban Head Coach Aaron Lewis, Mason, and Walker talked about the exciting come-from-behind win:

Overall, Northwest held the slight shot advantage (15-13), while also tallying more corner-kicks, 7-5.  In the all-important overtime stanza, however, Corban registered three shots and one corner-kick to none for the Eagles on both accounts.  Walker led the way with four shots for Corban, while Siedenburg and Jonathan Ellis both recorded three to lead the way for the Eagles.

Mason finished the match with five saves in the triumph, while Christenson tallied six in the loss.

Corban (12-7-1) now awaits the announcement from the NAIA, coming on Sunday evening, as to who the Warriors will be facing in the NAIA Men's Soccer Opening Round.  Location, opponent, and time are yet to be determined, but the date of the match will be next Saturday, November 22.  Stay tuned for details!