KIRKLAND, Wash. – The Corban University Women's Soccer team (7-2-3, 3-1-3) suffered their first loss in Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) play this afternoon, falling on the road to the Northwest University Eagles (10-0-2, 6-0-1) by a single goal in a 1-2 defeat.
"Not the result we wanted, but the team battled through a very physical game, scoring a great header goal before the halftime break," Corban Head Coach Whitney Pitalo shared earlier this afternoon.
"We ultimately failed to produce enough dangerous opportunities in the final third in the second half. Northwest was a tough matchup on the road and had us running a lot. We will get back to work for our next travel trip to Montana," Pitalo elaborated.
The Eagles, playing on their home field for the final time this season, scored the first goal in the contest in the 33rd minute, as midfielder Kayla Soderstrom knocked in a goal after connecting on a cross from midfielder Claire Jo Diede. This was the first goal Warriors' junior goalkeeper Makida Herbert has allowed in five straight matches, snapping her shutout streak.
However, Corban refused to go down scoreless in the half as they instantly turned the offense up a notch to force Northwest into unfamiliar territory for them on their home pitch. With the Eagles pinned down in their own half of the field, aggressive offense turned into a golden opportunity for the Warriors, as a blocked cross put the ball at the feet of junior midfielder Moe Sato, who launched the ball to the opposite side of the field and found sophomore forward Alysia Alvarado all alone with only Northwest's goalkeeper to beat.
A beautiful header attempt from Alvarado put the ball just within reach of Eagles' goalkeeper Hanne Breur, but far enough away that Breur's block attempt came up just short, as the ball slowly rolled into the net to give Alvarado her fourth goal of the season.
After the halftime break, the Eagles and Warriors would battle back and forth for most of the second half gameplay, before Northwest broke the 1-1 tie in the 68th minute with a breakaway goal from forward Anna Lau on an assist from midfielder Grace Burke.
Try as they might, the Warriors saw two more opportunities in front of the net, but Breur hauled them in to keep Corban off the board for the remainder of the contest, resulting in the Warriors' first conference loss and the Eagles' undefeated record remaining on unblemished. Northwest hands Corban their first loss in almost a loss, and just their second loss of the season.
Alvarado's first half goal would be only the second score the Eagles would allow all season at home, and her fourth of the season now ties her with junior defender Jamine Biava for the team lead.
Herbert (7-2-3) took her first loss since the non-conference slate this afternoon, hauling in four saves in the process. Senior midfielder Mei Suetsugu logged a game-high three shots for the Warriors, one of which came on goal.
Breur nabbed a pair of saves and allowed the one goal to Alvarado to earn the win, while Jo Diede recorded a game-high five shots offensively.
The Corban Women's Soccer team completes their three-week road trip next weekend in Montana, where they will battle Rocky Mountain College on Friday at 1pm MT in Billings, before turning around and traveling to Great Falls with another 1pm MT kickoff against the Argos of the University of Providence.
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