SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – The Corban University Women's Soccer team has earned a top four seed in the Cascade Collegiate Conference Tournament for the first time since 2017, and the Warriors look to continue the upward trend that first year head coach Travez Whyte has set with a well-rounded team that can not only keep opponents off the scoreboard but can convert offensively at will when the team's cohesion is on point.

"We've had lots of learning and growing opportunities this conference season that we are grateful for and know everything has led to positive development for our student-athletes," Coach Whyte stated as the team enters the postseason in his first year leading the program. "Now it's playoff time, our energy is right, and we are excited to keep working hard for each other as a team and for the glory of God! Warrior Nation, join us if you can because your support plays a huge role!"

Despite tying for third overall in the CCC standings, the Warriors (9-5-4) will serve as the No. 4-seed this week after placing second in the three-way tiebreaker with Eastern Oregon University and Northwest University. The Mountaineers earned the No. 3-seed thanks to a win and tie against Corban and NU, while the Eagles received the remaining fifth overall seed and will serve as the visiting team in tonight's matchup with the Navy and Gold.

The only NAIA Top 25 program in the conference, No. 15-ranked College of Idaho, has earned the first automatic qualifying spot from the CCC office and will be the team to beat as the top overall seed in this week's tourney, as they'll look to fend off eighth-seeded Bushnell University later this afternoon on the Beacons' home field. No. 2-seeded Carroll College will "host" seventh-seeded Southern Oregon University, while Eastern Oregon will battle the No. 6-seeded Owls of Oregon Tech.

The 2023 season has been a rollercoaster for the Warriors as they qualified for their tenth-straight postseason appearance weeks ago yet kicked off the year with a rough losing record in non-conference road games and had to fight tooth and nail just to eke out of the preseason slate with a 3-2-2 record prior to the opening weekend of conference games. However, it wouldn't be until their third weekend of conference matchups before the Navy and Gold would suffer their first conference defeat but would rebound to win their next four matchups and clinch a playoff bid on their final home match of the season.

The Yotes and Mounties were able to expose the Warriors and some of their weaknesses in their final matchups played out this year, which is exactly what Coach Whyte shared would help better the team heading into their quarterfinal matchup today with the Eagles. Despite taking the conference match with Northwest 2-1 on their home field back in early October, Corban will certainly be playing against a reinvigorated Eagle lineup that stunned SOU 3-1 on the road two weeks ago, giving NU new hope and momentum as they look to avenge their regular season loss later tonight.

Warrior Nation will look to the upperclassmen leadership on both the offensive and defensive ends of the field if they want to see extra games added to the 2023 schedule throughout this week and into next, specifically from senior goalkeeper Makida Herbert and junior midfielder Alysia Alvarado. Herbert has been the metaphorical brick wall for the Warriors over the last three seasons as the program's all-time career leader in goals against average, while Alvarado jumped into the NAIA scene as a transfer sophomore last season and quickly became Corban's leading goal scorer this year with eight scoring drives and assisting on three more, leaving her responsible for nearly half of the team goals this season.

The key role players around Herbert and Alvarado will be held to a high expectation today as the program looks to avoid a first round exit for the third consecutive tourney, with junior defenders Josie Brence and Vitoria Marocci standing tall on the Warriors' defensive front, while forwards Kelli Huskic and Fatima Jimenez each look to add to their goal totals who share the second overall spot on the team with four goals apiece.

Corban will serve as the home team in their matchup with Northwest at 8pm tonight on Field #2 of the Les Schwab Sports Park, looking to extend their season and make a push towards their first NAIA National Tournament appearance since 2005. Live video and live stats are available for the quarterfinal matchup thanks to host school Bushnell University.

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