DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – The most historic and successful men's soccer season for Corban University came to an end on Tuesday at the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Final Site, as the Warriors lost to the defending national champion, the University of Rio Grande (Ohio), in the Second Round of the national championships, 3-1. As one of the final 16 teams competing, it marks the furthest the Warriors have ever advanced while setting numerous records along the way.
Click the 'Play Button' on the photo above for video highlights from Corban's final match of the year.
"Tonight we hold our heads extremely high as we battled toe to toe with the defending national champions," said Corban head coach Aaron Lewis. "Our group proved that without a doubt this program is amongst the nation's best."
Corban finishes the 2016 season with a 20-3-0 overall record, setting a new program-best mark for most wins in a single campaign. The Warriors also were the furthest-advancing team from the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) in the NAIA National Championship Tournament.
Corban went on the front foot right away to begin the contest, playing a ball in behind off of the kickoff, and Timur Zhividze got on the end of it, going past a defender in the 18-yard box and almost got a shot off before Rio Grande (20-1-1) was able to track back and clear following a collision in the box.
The Warriors needed some big defensive clears of their own after that when the RedStorm racked up multiple corner-kick opportunities, and Jordan Farr and the Corban defense held firm, keeping Rio Grande from finding too much of an offensive rhythm.
Later in the first half, Corban looked like it would go in front when Zhividze ripped a shot on frame, and the Warriors would have taken the lead had a RedStorm defender not made a last-ditch reaction save off the line with his head.
It was five shots apiece in the first 45 minutes in a very back and forth contest.
The second stanza did not start as kindly as the first half for the Warriors, as inside of the first three minutes, a Rio Grande player was deemed to have been fouled in the box, resulting in a penalty kick. Jeremy de Hoog blasted his penalty kick to the left side to put the RedStorm up 1-0.
Rio Grande then made it 2-0 and 3-0 on similar plays in the 66th and 70th minutes when Pau Delgado Rodriguez one-timed crosses into the back of the net from close range.
Corban would provide a response, however, as Zhividze finally found the goal he had been looking for, as after receiving a pass from Armando Guevara, he curled a shot from the left corner of the 18-yard box into the top-right corner of the goal, pulling Corban back to within two scores.
The momentum instantly shifted, and Corban pressed to try and find a second. Kemar Prince had a golden opportunity on a free kick to try and bring Corban to within one goal, but his free kick was blocked.
Ultimately, the RedStorm closed out the contest to advance to national quarterfinal.
"I want to thank our departing senior class for their commitment to all that is Corban Soccer," said Lewis. "Every one of them have invested significantly in a purpose bigger than themselves, and we want them to be recognized once again."
It was a season to remember for the Corban men's soccer team, and with a strong core of players returning next year, the Warriors will be primed to make another run at history in 2017.
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