BOX SCORE

SALEM, Ore. – For the first time since the 2008 season, Corban's men's soccer team has clinched a spot in the Cascade Collegiate Conference tournament thanks to a 4-2 win over Oregon Tech Saturday on Senior Recognition Day at Warrior Field.

With today's win, Corban improves to 10-6-1 overall and 8-4-1 in CCC action. This is the first time since 2004 that a Warrior men's soccer team has won more than nine games, as then-Western Baptist went 10-5-2 overall. On the other hand, Oregon Tech falls to 5-11-1 overall and 3-9-1 in league games.

After a scoreless 16-plus minutes, junior Tyler Hagen (Silverton, Ore.) put the Warriors on the board at the 16:33 mark with an unassisted goal following a take away from OIT's defense before placing a shot underneath a diving Owl keeper.

Unfortunately, the Warriors' lead would not last long as Oregon Tech tied the game a mere eight seconds later when Jimmy Merkley sent a deflection off a Corban defender and into the back of the net at the 16:41 mark to knot things at a goal apiece.

Neither team would score again until the final seconds of the opening half, when Hagen took a combo pass from junior Tillermon Kroon (Wasilla, Alaska) and senior Devin Chaney (Helena, Mt.) for his second goal of the afternoon at the 44:47 mark. Hagen's eighth goal of the season with give Corban a slim one-goal advantage, 2-1, at halftime.

In the second half, sophomore KJ Newbery (Pleasanton, Calif.) earned a penalty kick in the 70th minute after being pulled down in the box by Oregon Tech's goalkeeper as both players were tracking down a loose ball. After stepping to the penalty circle, Newbery calmly launched the ball into the upper right corner past a confused Owl keeper for the Warriors' third goal of the afternoon.

At the 77:14 mark, Oregon Tech would pull within a single goal (3-2) on Hector Jimenez's third goal of the season off an assist by Dustin Hirata. Hirata would begin the scoring play by sending a through ball to Jimenez, who one-timed a rocket shot past a diving Warrior keeper that pulled the Owls within a single goal.

Attempting to apply pressure to Corban's defense in the final 20-plus minutes, Oregon Tech would fall victim to one final goal in the 87th minute when Chaney netted his team-leading ninth goal of the season off an assist by junior Aaron Kinnes (Gladstone, Ore.). The game's final scoring play would begin with Kinnes sending a long ball down the far sideline that Chaney collected and went around OIT's goalie before striking a shot into the right side of a wide-open net for the final score of 4-2 in favor of the home team.

Freshman goalkeeper Steven Mason (Santa Rosa, Calif.) recorded a game-high six saves to go along with a pair of team saves by Warrior defenders, while Oregon Tech's Tanner Lee tallied four saves despite allowing all four goals.

Offensively, Corban controlled the shot total (19-to-17) but Oregon Tech had more shots on goal (10-to-8) and collected more corner kicks (4-to-3).

Corban will return to the field in the final game of the regular season on Saturday, November 5th, against fellow playoff bound Northwest beginning at 3:00 p.m. in Kirkland, Washington.