SALEM, Ore. – The No. 14-ranked Corban University men's soccer team saw its historic season come to an end in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday, falling to (RV) UC Merced in penalty kicks (6-5) in the two squads' NAIA Opening Round matchup.
"I'm super proud of this team," said head coach Tim Kagey. "It wasn't the result we wanted, but we played our way and controlled most of the game. This is an incredible group!"
The game advanced to penalty kicks after the two teams played to a 1-1 deadlock at the end of regulation and two overtime periods.
Neither team was able to find the back of the net in a quiet first half, with just five shots mustered between the two squads. Corban had a promising opportunity just six minutes into the contest, but the Bobcats' Marco Sobrevilla turned in an outstanding save to deny Camilo Avendano from close range.
Corban controlled time of possession for the bulk of the contest, but UC Merced managed to draw first blood. The Bobcats' Andres Lua snuck in unmarked to head in a corner kick from Miguel Coronado, giving UC Merced a 1-0 advantage in the 67th minute. It was the only on-frame shot mustered by the Bobcats in the game.
Just six minutes later, a Bobcat foul in the box provided Corban with a prime opportunity to equalize. The Warriors called upon their leading goal scorer—Matheus Giron—to convert the penalty kick, and the conference Newcomer of the Year delivered, providing the equalizer in the 73rd minute.
Both teams sought frantically for an advantage as the clock wound down, with Corban outshooting UC Merced 13-6 in the second half. Unable to find the back of the net, the two squads played through a pair of golden goal overtime periods before the penalty shootout.
The Bobcats and Warriors each converted their first five penalty kicks, before Ivan Ceballos gave the visitors a 6-5 advantage in the shootout. With tension high across the stadium at Sparks Field, the Warriors were unable to provide an answer, as Quentin Petcu's shot sailed just above the crossbar.
Adding to the sting of the result, the Navy and Gold out-shot their foes by a 22-8 margin.
UC Merced will advance to the NAIA Final Site in Irvine, Calif., where the country's 16 Opening-Round victors will compete for the national championship on December 2-7.
The Warriors—who claimed the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Regular-Season and Tournament crowns in 2019—end the fall with a 17-0-3 overall record, marking the program's first-ever undefeated season and best-ever record.
In addition, the squad made its seventh-consecutive appearance at the NAIA National Tournament, the most among any NAIA squad in the west.
The future remains bright for the Navy and Gold, with eight of the squad's starting eleven set to return in 2020.
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