BOX SCORE

SALEM, Ore. – Sophomore Steffan Bard (Oregon City, Ore.) scored the first two goals of his career, as Corban's men's soccer team picked up a crucial Cascade Collegiate Conference victory over the visiting Knights of Warner Pacific, 2-0, Saturday at Warrior Field.

"Today's win is about the performance and the guys played two very good halves of soccer," said head coach Paul Meehan. "I think any time that you get a shut out against a team like Warner Pacific with a potential and explosive attack, it is a good thing. I really pleased with how well we defended and then Steffan Bard came on and did a great job up front, as he deserves the two goals that he got. Once again, it was a very, very good team performance as everybody did their job."

After a scoreless opening 45 minutes of play in which Corban controlled the offensive flow, the host Warriors turned up the pressure and put home the game-winning goal in the 58th minute when Bard rebounded his own initial shot that hit the post into the back of the net. The scoring play would begin with Bard ricocheting a shot off the left post before sending it back towards Warner Pacific's net where it deflected off a Knight defender for his first goal of the season.

Just over two minutes after Corban took the lead, Warner Pacific had a chance to tie the game when the Knights' Tarik Subasic headed a corner kick off the foot of Jameson James that got past a diving Warrior keeper only to have freshman Andrew Stenberg (Hood River, Ore.) save the day with a clearing header. Stenberg's save would keep the slate clean for Corban, as the Warrior defense stepped up to the challenge throughout the afternoon.

Corban would have another scoring chance in the 72nd minute when junior Aaron Kinnes (Gladstone, Ore.) nearly headed home a corner kick by fellow junior Tyler Hagen (Silverton, Ore.) only to have the ball hit the right post before being cleared away by Warner Pacific's defense.

Only a couple minutes later, Corban would nearly put home its second goal when freshman Derik Chaney (Helena, Mont.) sent an attempted crossing pass into the air. As the ball looked like it was heading over the end line, Warner Pacific's goalkeeper gave up on the play only to have it carom off the cross bar and back into the field of play. Unfortunately for the host Warriors, there was not an offensive player around that could put the ball into the net as Warner Pacific kept the game within one goal.

In the 87th minute, Corban would strike again when Chaney sent a perfectly placed through ball onto a streaking Bard that got behind the Knights' defense to go one-on-one with Warner Pacific's keeper. Wanting to put an insurance goal on the board, Bard calmly struck a shot underneath WPC's diving net-minder for a two-goal Warrior lead.

Wanting to get on the board and not be shut out, Warner Pacific mounted one last push offensively in the waning minutes but Corban's defense was ready and held the Knights to a mere two shots en route to earning the hard-fought two-goal victory.

Freshman goalkeeper Steven Mason (Santa Rosa, Calif.) registered his second shutout in a span of seven days thanks to a pair of saves, while Warner Pacific's Drew Bonifacio tallied a game-high five saves despite allowing both goals.

Corban would dominate all offensive categories, as the Warriors tallied more shots (18-to-10), shots on goal (8-to-3), and corner kicks (9-to-4) than the visiting Knights of Warner Pacific.

With today's win, Corban improves to 7-6-0 overall and moves above .500 in conference play for the first time all season at 5-4-0. Meanwhile, Warner Pacific falls to 7-4-1 overall and 5-3-0 in league games. The Warriors will return to action on Wednesday, October 19th, against The Evergreen State College beginning at 4:00 p.m. in Olympia, Washington.