FOREST GROVE, Ore. – The Corban University Men's Soccer team opened the 2026 campaign in winning fashion on Saturday evening, defeating NCAA DIII Pacific University, 1-0, at Hanson Stadium. Redshirt junior forward Alvaro Castellon scored the match's lone goal in the 18th minute, while redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Rylan Davidson and the Warrior defense collected a shutout as Corban secured its first victory of the season.
"I'm very pleased with our first counted win," Corban head coach Jordan Keegan shared. "We dominated the game from the very beginning, and our group showed a very mature performance. We should've gotten on the scoresheet a bit more, but the important part was that we were getting in the right spots. Gio, Alvaro, and AJ had excellent performances tonight."
The Warriors (1-0-0) controlled much of the play from the opening whistle, generating consistent attacking pressure and forcing Pacific starting goalkeeper Kobi Miyamoto into several early saves. Corban earned a pair of corner kicks in the first 17 minutes and put multiple shots on target before finally finding the breakthrough.
That breakthrough came in the 18th minute when Jesus Mendoza connected with Castellon, who finished the chance for what would prove to be the game-winning goal. The tally gave the Navy and Gold a deserved 1-0 lead and rewarded a strong opening stretch in which Corban dictated possession and attacking opportunities.
The Warriors carried that advantage into halftime after limiting Pacific to just four first-half shots. Davidson was sharp between the posts, turning away three first-half attempts to preserve the lead.
Corban continued to push forward after the intermission, outshooting Pacific 7-3 in the second half. The Warriors created several quality chances to add insurance, including shots on target from Castellon, senior defender Aaron James, freshman midfielder Abraham Lopez, freshman defender Johnny Garcia, and sophomore forward Jaycob Miller.
One of the defining moments of the match came in the 76th minute. Following a foul in the Corban goalkeeper's box, Pacific was awarded a penalty kick with an opportunity to level the score. However, the Boxers were unable to convert, allowing Corban to maintain its slim advantage. Davidson later added another save in the 87th minute as the Warrior back line successfully closed out the victory.
Castellon led the Corban attack with a goal on two shots, including two shots on goal. Mendoza recorded the game's lone assist, while James delivered a strong performance with two shots, both on frame. Lopez added two shots with one shot on goal, and Corban received offensive contributions throughout the lineup as eight different Warriors registered at least one shot. As a team, the Navy and Gold finished with a 14-7 advantage in total shots and a 9-4 edge in shots on goal.
Defensively, Davidson was outstanding in his Warrior debut, stopping all four shots on target he faced to earn his first shutout of the year. The Warrior defense limited Pacific to just seven total shots and did not allow a goal despite facing a second-half penalty kick opportunity.
Notable Statistics
- Corban opened the 2026 season with a victory and improved to 1-0-0 overall.
- Castellon scored his first goal of the season and registered the game-winning tally in his first appearance as a Warrior.
- Mendoza recorded his first assist of the new campaign.
- Davidson collected four saves and earned the Warriors' first clean sheet of 2026.
- Corban outshot Pacific 14-7 and held a 9-4 advantage in shots on goal.
- The Warriors generated seven corner kicks while not allowing Pacific a single corner opportunity.
- Eight different Corban players recorded at least one shot in a balanced offensive effort.
- Corban's defense successfully preserved the shutout, even after Pacific was awarded a penalty kick in the 76th minute.
With the season-opening victory secured, the Warriors begin the 2026 campaign at 1-0 and will look to carry that momentum into their counting contest home opener next Friday. The Navy and Gold return to action on Friday, September 4th at 4pm when they welcome Pacific Union College (0-1-0) to the Outdoor Athletic Complex (OAC).
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