BOX SCORE

SALEM, Ore. – In its second game of the season, Corban's women's soccer team played to a scoreless tie in double overtime against NCAA Division II member Saint Martin's Saturday on Warrior Field in a non-conference game for both teams.

With today's result, Corban improves to 1-0-1 on the season. On the other hand, Saint Martin's overall record did not change due to the fact that the Saints were playing today's game as an exhibition since NCAA rules do not allow to officially begin the regular season until after September 1st.

"I am disappointed to come away with a tie, but this was the game that we needed to be challenged in," said head coach Marty Ziesemer. "We have not been challenged yet in our scrimmage and first game of the regular season. It was good for us to see a team that we were going to have to work harder against. We had a lot of pressure on us and did well."

Junior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Mendenhall registered a game-high nine saves between the pipes for the Warriors, as Corban has not allowed a goal yet this season in 200 minutes of action. On the other side of the field, Saint Martin's net-minder Gina Cardenas tallied four saves in 90-plus minutes of action to go along with a pair of saves by back-up goalkeeper Hannah Barlow in 19-plus minutes in goal for SMU.

"My defense was really helping me out today and even though there where a lot of shots, I got to them and I thank the Lord that He got me through that," said Mendenhall. "Our team works on keeping the opponent from scoring a lot at practice. We play a lot where you just try not to let shots in. My goalie trainer always says, 'Get every shot, every shot!' I'm just working really hard this season."

Corban had a chance early in the game to break the scoreless tie when senior Audrey Sullivan unleashed a slow, rolling shot in the 16th minute towards the left side of the goal only to have the ball get underneath Cardenas before bouncing off the left post and into the awaiting arms of the Saints' keeper.

In the 41st minute, Corban had another chance to get on the scoreboard when freshman Allyson Irwin got behind SMU's defense and had a one-on-one opportunity with Cardenas only to put a shot right into the awaiting arms of Saint Martin's goalkeeper to keep both sides without a goal heading into halftime.

Saint Martin's had its best scoring opportunity in the second half when Ashley Richardson got off back-to-back shots on Mendenhall in the 67th minute only to have the third-year Warrior goalkeeper step up to the challenge and keep the Saints off the scoreboard.

Neither team would muster much offense over the final 20-plus minutes of regulation, as Corban had three scoring opportunities compared to Saint Martin's one and the game went into overtime without anyone scoring a goal.

In the first overtime period, Sullivan nearly ended the game in the opening few minutes only to have her shot go wide to the right. Saint Martin's would get two scoring chances with both shots going wide of the frame to force a second and final extra period.

The second overtime period would see junior Rileigh Mankin have an opportunity to end the game in the 104th minute only to see Cardenas pounce on that shot, as the Saints got three opportunities forcing Mendenhall to make one save to preserve the tie for both teams.

Overall, Saint Martin's would register three more shots (16-to-13) than Corban that included a 9-to-6 advantage in shots on goal. In a physical game, the two teams combined for 29 fouls with Saint Martin's earning the advantage in corner kicks (10-to-3).

"Our back four and goalkeeper have been working really well together so far this season and I was pleased with how well they played today," said Ziesemer. "Kaitlyn (Mendenhall) did a really good job for us in goal, as she dealt with a flurry of shots and made some big saves that kept us in the game."

Corban will return to the field on Monday, September 2nd, against the Bruins of George Fox beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Warrior Field in Salem.