FOREST GROVE, Ore. – A single goal was the difference this evening between the Corban University Women's Soccer team and NCAA DIII Pacific University, as the Warriors scored a second half goal and were able to keep the Boxers off the scoreboard for their second-consecutive game to start the 2024 fall season. Pacific utilized today's matchup as an exhibition for their first contest of the year.
"We played a very athletic and strong Pacific team that brought another level of intensity and challenge that we needed to learn from, and we overcame it together," explained Corban head coach Travez Whyte. "Our Warriors stayed composed and true to our playing style, which I'm very proud of them for doing. Huge shoutout to Sofy for scoring that banger which not only meant a lot for us, but also for her mom who is in the hospital. Please keep her in your prayers with us, and as always, thanks to our traveling families for supporting us!"
Both the Warriors (2-0) and Boxers (0-0) had plenty of scoring opportunities throughout the first half, with each of their most legitimate attempts coming within the first ten minutes of the contest. For Pacific, a miscommunication on Corban's backline in the opening minute resulted in an attacking forward alone in front of the goal, yet an offsides call wiped the open netter off the scoreboard.
On the Warriors' own offensive end, senior forward Alysia Alvarado caught the Boxers' goalkeeper sleeping on a pass backwards from a defender, allowing her to swipe the ball and nearly score within the penalty box. Pacific's goalkeeper was able to hop on Alvarado's attempt prior to her fourth goal of the season finding the back of the net. Eventually, three shots on goal resulting on three saves by both programs resulted in a 0-0 score at halftime.
However, less than ten minutes into the second half, redshirt sophomore defender Sofia Ospina collected a corner kick opportunity that was cleared out at the 15-yard line of the Boxers' football field and proceeded to launch a strike into the upper righthand corner of Pacific's goal to break the nearly 55-minute draw with her first goal as a Warrior.
Thirty-five minutes later, Corban women's soccer emerged victorious after the backline and sophomore goalkeeper Ava Hayes pitched their second-straight shutout to kickstart the 2024 fall season. Hayes finished with a trio of saves, all in the first half as the Warriors' defense kept the Boxers from attempting a single shot in the second period of play.
Freshman forward Maya Alston led all student-athletes with three shots, two of which came on goal and were saved by one of Pacific's three goalkeepers to see time in between the posts this evening. Warriors' junior forward Carley Ganchenko followed with two shots, while each of the Boxers' four shots were taken by four different attackers.
Corban women's soccer will return to action on Saturday, August 24th on their own home field at 11am, as they'll battle the Spartans of Trinity Western University (1-2-1) for the first matchup in program history at the Outdoor Athletic Complex.
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