SALEM, Ore. – The Corban University women's soccer team outshot Linfield College on Thursday Night at Warrior Field, 16-7, but due to an unfortunate own goal late in the first half, the Warriors fell to the Wildcats, 1-0. The loss is Corban's third straight without scoring a goal.
Match Photos
"I am very disappointed with the loss," said head coach Marty Ziesemer. "Right now we are not playing well enough to win. We've got to do the little things better as a team. We've got to find that hunger and passion as we get into conference play, and I need to figure out as a coach what is going to push the right buttons to get them ready."
In the first stanza, it was Corban on the front foot for the entire half, registering a number of close opportunities. Senior forward Katelyn Fekkes (Stanwood, Wash.) had the best chance of the half for Corban when she was in behind the Wildcat defense and fired a shot on goal, but it went right to the Linfield goalkeeper, Sarah Bailey, as she made the save.
In the 43rd minute, Linfield hit a shot going towards goal and looked to be heading into Brusven's hands comfortably, but after a Warrior defender tried to clear the ball, her effort went in the wrong direction and into the back of her own net, putting Linfield in front, 1-0, via the own goal.
In the second stanza, Linfield (3-0) started off right away with three quality chances, and if not for a few good defensive plays from the Warrior backline, the Wildcats may have doubled their lead.
Corban continued to look for the opportunity to break through and score its first goal in three games, but it ended up being sophomore goalkeeper Sheyenne Brusven (Silverton, Ore.) who kept the Warriors in it late when she made a key save, pushing the ball over the top of the bar to keep Corban within touching distance.
With less than three minutes left in regulation, Warrior sophomore defender Taylor McLaughlin (Salem, Ore.) ripped a shot on target, but again Bailey saved it and pushed it wide of the goal. Off of the ensuing corner kick, freshman defender Heidi Fronk (Vancouver, Wash.) snapped a powerful header towards goal, but Bailey proved too strong, making the save and finishing the shutout performance for the Wildcats.
Bailey finished with seven saves between the pipes, while Brusven notched four for Corban. In the attack, Fekkes tallied a team-best three shots for the Navy and Gold.
Corban (2-4) takes a break from action until traveling to Montana next week for a pair of games against the University of Great Falls and Carroll College. Both matches mark the first games of the brand new Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) season for Corban, so the Warriors will look to get off to a fresh start on that road trip.
