SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – The Corban University men's soccer team fell in heartbreaking fashion to top-seeded Warner Pacific University in Wednesday evening's Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Semifinals, presented by U.S. Bank. After a rain-drenched 110 minutes of scoreless play, the Knights advanced to the CCC Championship match via penalty kicks, winning the shootout, 8-7.
"I'm very proud to be this team's coach!" said director of soccer Tim Kagey. "We will be back next year."
The loss ends the Warriors' season, giving the Navy and Gold an 11-6-1 overall record (9-4 CCC). In addition, Corban's streak of eight-consecutive years with a berth to the NAIA Tournament comes to an end.
Wednesday's gritty battle was as intense as expected, with the fourth-seeded Warriors looking to upend the conference Co-Regular Season Champion Knights and earn a place in the CCC Tournament Championship bout.
With a steady downpour and wet pitch, the two squads battled back-and-forth through a tense and physical period of regulation. Neither team could find a goal after 90 minutes had expired, leading to the first overtime contest of the season for the Navy and Gold. Neither team could find the back of the net in the two overtime periods, either, leading to a thrilling penalty-kick shootout to determine who would advance to the title game.
Justin Keegan was tested twice in the second overtime stanza, coming up clutch on both occasions with pivotal saves to keep the game alive.
Heading into the penalty shootout, Corban missed its first opportunity, but quickly drew even when WPU's Isaac Tarelo missed the Knight's second shot.
From there, the two teams battled back-and-forth, matching each other shot-for-shot as tension continued to rise at the Willamalane Complex.
Knotted at 7-7, momentum swung to the Knights when Alexis Calderilla-Hurtado sprawled to his left to stop a penalty shot from Tristan Erispe, and Matias Castano then converted his chance, helping WPU advance.
It's a heartbreaking finish to the 2021 campaign for the Warriors, who narrowly miss out on a chance to play for the conference's second automatic berth to the NAIA Tournament.
While the pain of Wednesday's nail-biting match won't be forgotten quickly, there is plenty of reason to be hopeful as the program looks to its future. Six of the squad's top-seven scorers are set to return next year, and eight of the team's 11 starters from tonight are projected to be back in 2022.
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