SALEM, Ore. – The Corban University Women's Soccer team clinched a massive six-point weekend earlier tonight at the Outdoor Athletic Complex to continue their push towards a top seed in the Cascade Collegiate Conference Tournament at the end of the regular season, defeating The Evergreen State College by a final score of 3-2. The Geoducks (1-8-1, 1-6-0) made tonight's contest interesting down the stretch by trailing by only one goal a majority of the second half, but the Warriors (6-3-4, 4-1-2) were able to clutch out the home victory with some lockdown defense to close out the match.
"Tonight, we celebrate our Warriors for getting six crucial points this weekend," Warriors' head coach Travez Whyte stated. "Pushing through physically and mentally this weekend was huge. We rest tomorrow then continue to improve as a team. All praise to God, go Warriors!"
Things could not have started any worse for the Warriors in their fourth-straight home match, as a miscommunication in their own defensive half resulted in an empty net opportunity for the Geoducks, which forward Brieanna Dell took advantage of and scored with ease to provide the road squad with a single goal lead in just eleven minutes of play thus far.
In the 31st minute, the Navy and Gold evened the playing field with a penalty kick try from junior midfielder Valentina Virguez, as a foul in the Geoducks' penalty box allowed Virguez only the second PK chance of the season and the second in as many days. She connected on her try to score her first goal of the season and knot this contest up once again.
Not even sixty seconds into the second half, graduate student midfielder Kaleigh Haworth redirected via a header on a free kick cross by redshirt sophomore defender Delaney Fiedler to score her second goal of the year and break a 1-1 stalemate with Evergreen State.
Twenty-three minutes later, junior defender Caterina La Manna scored the first goal of her Warrior career after a leaping cross was bounced off multiple players before it settled with La Manna, allowing her to convert with ease in front of the net and provide the Warriors with a 3-1 lead.
However, just twenty seconds after La Manna's goal, the Geoducks took advantage of the Warriors falling asleep on defense and sent the ball deep into the Corban penalty box, where senior goalkeeper Makida Herbert was called for a questionable foul as both herself and an Evergreen State offensive player collided and sent the Geoducks to the penalty kick marker. Defender Peyton Rhyne converted to pull Evergreen back within a single goal.
The Warriors still managed to find a way to escape with a victory against the Geoducks, despite allowing the most goals in a single conference match thus far and only for the third occasion this season. Their narrow win didn't come without an incredible offensive brigade of shots, as Corban outshot Evergreen State 23-9 and 15-6 in shots on goal yet scoring on only three of those opportunities.
Warriors' junior midfielder Alysia Alvarado led all student-athletes on the pitch today with six shots in total, two of which came on goal. Rhyne paced the Geoducks' offense with three shots this evening.
Herbert secured three saves for the Navy and Gold in a winning effort, while Evergreen State goalkeeper Anna Varela hauled in a game-high 12 saves yet allowed three goals for her third loss of the season.
The Warriors will play their final two home games of the 2023 season next weekend at the OAC, beginning with the Warner Pacific University Knights (5-6-1, 2-4-1) visiting on Friday, October 13th at 7pm.
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