PHOENIX, Ariz. – After falling behind early, the No. 20 Corban University men's soccer team stormed back to score four times in a 4-2 triumph over Arizona Christian University in the 2016 season-opener on Thursday evening. Junior Timur Zhividze led the way for the Warriors, scoring the tying goal while assisting on two others in his first-career match with Corban.
"I am satisfied to start off the year with a win on the road," said Corban head coach Aaron Lewis. "We were happy with our ability to create chances tonight as we expect to be more lethal this season. We also are taking a few important items from tonight that we'll look to improve on heading into a difficult second match."
Zhividze, who had been patiently waiting for his opportunity after transferring to Corban and having to sit out one year due to the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) transfer rule, made the most of his first match with the Warriors. Despite not scoring on a few early opportunities, he stayed the course. After Arizona Christian scored on its first opportunity of the game in the ninth minute, Zhividze tied the contest at 1-1 in the 38th minute with a rip to the lower-left corner, marking his first-career goal with the Navy and Gold.
While Corban outshot the Firestorm in the first 45 minutes, 11-6, the score remained knotted at 1-1 at the break.
Putting the pressure on immediately to begin the second stanza, Zhividze played a perfectly weighted ball over the top to senior Kemar Prince, and Prince calmly brought it down, took a touch and slotted it to the lower-right corner to put Corban on top, 2-1. The goal was scored inside of the first 40 seconds of the second half.
In the 63rd minute of play, senior Quamie Dinnall ripped a ball across the face of goal and found fellow senior Bobby Hutchin who blasted it home from short range to make it 3-1.
ACU (0-1) responded just two minutes later, however, pulling a goal back to make it 3-2.
Corban reestablished complete control of the contest just three minutes later though when Dinnall blasted a shot into the top-right corner of the goal off a double-assist from Zhividze and senior Jacob Young.
Over the course of the final 20 minutes, the Warriors killed the game off with possession, securing their first victory on the 2016 campaign.
Corban outshot ACU 21-15 in the win with Zhividze totaling eight shots and Dinnall tallying four.
The Warriors (1-0) return to the pitch on Saturday when they travel to Prescott, Ariz., for a match against Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.). Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. Live stats and live video will be available here.
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