BOX SCORE

PORTLAND, Ore. – After taking its first lead in almost four years against nationally-ranked Concordia, Corban's men's soccer team was the victim of a penalty kick goal in the final two minutes falling 2-1 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference opener for both teams Tuesday at Tuominen Yard.

"That was a good college soccer game, both teams battled and I think we can find many positives in our performance, but we still have a ways to go," said head coach Paul Meehan. "You've got to give credit to Concordia, they are an excellent side and showed why they are the team to beat. Hat's off to their goalkeeper, he came up with a brilliant save late in the match that proved to make a difference. It's hard to give up a PK late in the game, but that happens and we need to re-group and get ready for Saturday.” 

For the first time in almost 500 minutes of soccer against the rival Cavaliers, Corban took the lead when the senior duo of Aaron Kinnes and Tillerman Kroon teamed up on a beautifully played corner kick that resulted in a goal in the 15th minute. The Warriors would earn the corner kick thanks to their high-powered offense, as Kinnes lined up on the far sideline before sending a perfectly placed ball onto the awaiting head of Kroon who directed a shot into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead at the 14:02 mark.

Kroon's first goal as a Warrior would snap Corban's scoreless streak of 496 minutes and 28 seconds against Concordia that dated back to September 29, 2009. Until today, Corban had gone five straight games without a goal against Concordia that spanned over two-plus seasons.

A defensive battle throughout the first half would conclude with Corban holding a 3-to-1 advantage in total shots that included a 1-0 edge in shots on goal.

Corban would continue to hold the lead until the 68th minute when Concordia's Gerrit Hamann scored off an assist from Patrick Allred. The scoring play would begin with a CU throw-in that was punched off the line by Corban's goalkeeper only to find the awaiting foot of Hamann, who unleashed a side kick from 15 yards out into the left side of the net for the equalizer at the 67:35 mark.

Three minutes earlier, Concordia had a golden opportunity to tie the game when Tyler Pummel ripped a shot from 25 yards out that cleared a diving Corban net-minder before ricocheting off the cross bar and out-of-bounds allowing the visiting Warriors to continue to hold their slim one-goal lead.

In the 86th minute, Corban would have a chance of its own to take the lead once again when freshman James Williamson blasted a shot from the top of the box off a Concordia player only to have the Cavaliers' goal tender Cole Dahle make an unbelievable save with his right foot after diving the opposite way that the redirected ball was traveling. Immediately after Dahle's save, senior Juan Castillo sent a diving header back towards the goal only to have Dahle snatch it away from harm to help preserve the tie.

Less than two minutes after Corban's potential scoring flurry, Concordia was awarded a penalty kick with under three minutes left in regulation when a Warrior defender was called for a hand ball in the box. Off a corner kick, Concordia would blast a shot from 35 yards out that hit a Warrior defender in the upper left arm while his hands were at his side in an attempt to get out of the path of the shot.

With just over two minutes left in regulation, Concordia's Septi Danciu took the penalty kick sending a shot into the lower left corner of the goal past a diving Corban goalkeeper for the 2-1 lead at the 87:19 mark.

Corban would put together one last effort to tie the game, but could not get past a collapsing Cavalier defense as Concordia held on the hard-fought one-goal victory.

Overall, Corban and Concordia each registered seven total shots with Corban tallying one more shot on goal (3-to-2) than the host Cavaliers. Concordia would earn one more corner kick (3-to-2) than Corban, while the Warriors were whistled for eight more fouls (14-to-6).

Sophomore net-minder Steven Mason would play all 90 minutes in goal for Corban without registering a save on both of Concordia's shots. Meanwhile, Concordia would split time in between the pipes between Arne Niermann and Dahle with the second keeper making both saves for the host Cavaliers.

With today's result, Corban falls to 1-2-2 overall and 0-1-0 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play. Meanwhile, Concordia improves to 2-2-1 overall and 1-0-0 in CCC action. The Warriors will return to the pitch on Saturday, September 15th, against Warner Pacific beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Sparks Field on the campus of Willamette University.