BOX SCORE

SALEM, Ore. – On Senior Appreciation Day, Corban's women's soccer team fell to the Hustlin' Owls of Oregon Tech, 2-1, Saturday afternoon at Warrior Field despite a goal by sophomore Rachel Cole (San Ramon, Calif.) in the 16th minute.

Even with today's outcome, Corban ends the regular season at 9-6-3 overall and 6-2-1 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play. Due to their 19 total points in conference games, the Warriors secured the No. 3-seed in next weekend's conference tournament semifinals and will play against conference rival and No. 2-seeded and conference regular season co-champion Concordia on Saturday, October 31st, in Portland at 4:00 p.m. at Delta Park.

Oregon Tech, who concluded its regular season at 13-5-0 and 6-3-0 in conference action, began the game's scoring at the 12:54 mark when Patti Degerness took a through ball from Katie O'Brien and slid a shot underneath a charging Warrior keeper for the early 1-0 lead.

Less than three minutes later, Corban evened the score when Cole directed a 20-yard shot through Oregon Tech's defense and into the lower right corner of the goal for her fourth tally of the season. Cole's goal was assisted by fellow sophomore Amanda Mendenhall (Windsor, Calif.).

Corban had a chance to take the lead in the 26th minute when junior Katie Hanson (Salem, Ore.) took a free kick from 23 yards out. Without allowing OIT's defensive wall an opportunity to set-up, Hanson unleashed a shot that hit the crossbar before it was cleared away from danger by an Owl defender.

In the final seconds of the opening half, Oregon Tech put home the eventual game-winner as Andrea Perez redirected a Crystal Foster shot at the 44:38 mark. Foster began the scoring play with a high-arching shot that Corban's keeper attempted to save, but the ball squirted just far enough away for Perez to take advantage and put home the Owls' second goal of the game.

Corban's final scoring chance came in the 63rd minute when junior Erin Laughlin (Ephrata, Wash.) got a return pass from freshman Emily Tsugawa (Gladstone, Ore.) off a corner kick. Without using a dribble, Laughlin rocketed a high-arching shot that ricocheted off the crossbar but Corban was called for off sides before the shot was released.

In a classic shootout, Corban controlled the offensive flow with nine shots in each half for a total of 18 versus Oregon Tech's 15. Corner kicks went the way of the home team as well with the Warriors collecting five to OIT's four.

Senior goalkeeper Jennifer Bassett (Keizer, Ore.) registered five saves for Corban in her final regular season game in front of the home crowd, while Oregon Tech's Megan Ross recorded a game-high seven saves in the victory.

Next Saturday, the Cascade Collegiate Conference playoffs will begin with No. 1 seed and regular season co-champion The College of Idaho hosting No. 4-seeded Oregon Tech at 12:00 p.m. in Caldwell, Idaho. Meanwhile, conference rivals Concordia (No. 2 seed) and Corban (No. 3 seed) will do battle in the Rose City at 4:00 p.m. at Strausser Field.