BOX SCORE

PORTLAND, Ore. – Corban's men's soccer team had its magical season come to an end Saturday in the Cascade Collegiate Conference finals thanks to a 2-0 loss to the NAIA's No. 9-ranked Concordia Saturday at the all-new Tuominen Yard at the Concordia University & Community Athletic Complex.

"The guys played their hearts out tonight and left it all on the field, I couldn't ask for anything more," said head coach Paul Meehan. "Concordia is an excellent team and well deserving of the conference title and national ranking, we wish them all the best as they advance."

In what could be considered too many as a Cinderella story, Corban's season came to an end Saturday night despite the Warriors going from last place a year ago to the conference tournament's championship game with a chance to advance to the program's first-ever NAIA National Tournament. Overall, Corban concluded the season with a win-loss record of 11-8-1 and Concordia improves to 16-1-1 advancing to the NAIA Opening Round game next weekend with an opponent and site to be determined later this weekend.

After a scoreless opening 21-plus minutes, Concordia broke a scoreless tie at the 21:52 mark when Evan Denmark teamed with Facundo Dipascuale for the eventual game-winning goal. The scoring play with begin with Dipascuale sending a corner kick to an awaiting Denmark, who drilled home a one-timer from 17 yards out past a crowd of players for a 1-0 Cavalier lead.

Concordia had another chance to add to its lead in the 34th minute when Michael Chamberlain sent a shot towards a wide-open Corban goal only to have a Warrior defender clear the ball off the line keeping the game a one-goal contest.

Overall, Concordia controlled the offensive flow of the first half collecting 18 more shots (19-to-1) than Corban.

Despite the large disadvantage offensively, Corban remained only one goal down and came out in the second half playing much-improved possession soccer. The Warriors even held a 2-to-1 advantage in shots through the first 11 minutes of the second half.

Corban freshman Josh Hamilton gave the Warriors their best chance at a goal in that stretch as he rocketed a shot from 30 yards out towards the Cavs goal in the 51st minute. However, the shot sailed just wide of the upper right corner of the net. The Warriors earned a corner off the play, though they couldn't make anything of it.

Following Corban's near goal, Concordia had a chance to go up 2-0 in the 57th minute when Septi Danciu earned a penalty kick off a foul in the box. However, a rare miss from Dipascuale on the PK kept the Cavs searching for its second score.

In the 69th minute, Concordia teammates Jordan Green and Danciu would manufacture the final goal of the evening. Off a corner kick from Danciu, Green headed home an 18-yard shot from the middle off the left post and into the back of the net for a 2-0 Concordia advantage.

Corban's only answer after the score came in the 90th minute when junior Tillermon Kroon's long shot forced the Cavaliers' goalkeeper to punch the ball over the cross bar with 26 seconds to go. The Warriors again got nothing out of the ensuing corner, though, and Dahle kept his shutout.

Freshman goalkeeper Steven Mason tallied a game and season-high tying 11 saves for Corban, while Concordia's Cole Dahle needed to make only one save en route to earning the shutout victory.

Offensively, Concordia controlled all three facets of the game – shots (32-to-4), shots on goal (14-to-1), and corner kicks (13-to-2) – despite Corban's defense battling throughout and coming away with their heads held high.

Corban concluded the 2011 season with the most wins since then-Western Baptist collected 13 victories during the 2003 season, while the Warriors had not finished higher than fifth place in the final conference standings since the 2006 season.

All-in-all, this year's men's soccer team performed both on and off the field making the University and its head coach proud.

"It has been a great season, I'm proud to be a part of this program, it has truly been an honor and blessing to work with such a tremendous group of student-athletes," commented Meehan. "A special thanks to our three seniors – Devin Chaney, Jorge Flores and Nolan Dempster – they endured some difficult times last year and were great leaders this season. They will be sorely missed, but played a huge part in the transformation of this program."