NEWBERG, Ore. – The Corban University Women's Soccer team outshot, out-possessed, and out-challenged the NCAA DIII Bruins from George Fox University tonight at the Austin Sports Complex, yet it was the hosts that walked away with the 1-0 victory behind a first half penalty kick goal that proved to the be only score of the contest behind a multitude of missed opportunities for the Warriors.
"We're obviously disappointed with the result because I thought we did a lot of things very well," Warriors' head coach Tim Kagey said. "I felt like we controlled large portions of the match and created enough chances to get something from it. Unfortunately, soccer can be a cruel game at times, and today one moment ended up deciding the outcome. There are still plenty of positives for us to build on moving forward and into our home opener next week."
Despite controlling much of the match and generating the better attacking opportunities throughout the evening, the Warriors (1-2-0) came away on the wrong side of a 1-0 decision on Sunday night, with the Bruins taking advantage of one of their few offensive scoring opportunities throughout the contest in the opening half. Corban came out aggressively from the opening whistle and immediately put pressure on the George Fox back line.
The Warriors earned three corner kicks in the opening 12 minutes and nearly found an early breakthrough when redshirt senior forward Kelli Huskic fired a shot just wide in the fourth minute. The Navy and Gold continued to push forward, with freshman forward Haley Miersma and sophomore midfielder Eliza Nisly each creating dangerous opportunities as Corban spent much of the first half in the attacking third.
The match's defining sequence arrived in the 33rd minute when George Fox was awarded a penalty kick following a Warrior foul just inside the nearside penalty box from the team sideline. Lindsey Kong converted from the spot to give the Bruins a 1-0 advantage despite the Warriors holding the edge in momentum to that point of the contest. Corban responded well after conceding, earning quality looks before halftime, including a shot on target from senior midfielder Olivia Fitzpatrick that forced a save from the GFU goalkeeper.
The Warriors carried their pressure into the second half, limiting George Fox to just two shots after the break while repeatedly threatening for the equalizer. Huskic tested the Bruin goalkeeper with a low shot effort in the 57th minute, while Nisly narrowly missed leveling the match 15 minutes later. Corban's best late opportunity came in the 90th minute when Fitzpatrick placed a shot on frame, but George Fox goalkeeper Myann Johansen came up with her fourth save of the afternoon to preserve the shutout.
Fitzpatrick led the Warrior attack with a team-high three shots and two shots on goal. Nisly added two shots with one effort on target, while Huskic registered two attempts and one shot on frame. Miersma and Fitzpatrick combined for three of Corban's four shots on goal as the Warriors finished with an 8-5 advantage in total shots and a 4-2 edge in shots on target.
Defensively, redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Jordyn Labajo recorded one save and was once again steady between the posts. The Corban backline limited George Fox to just five total shots for the match, with the Bruins' only legitimate scoring chance granted by the official via the penalty spot. Junior defenders Bailey Krause and Meliah Servatius, alongside sophomore defender Holly Macedo, helped anchor a defensive effort that largely kept the home side from generating sustained offensive pressure.
Notable Takeaways
- Corban outshot George Fox 8-5 and held a 4-2 advantage in shots on goal.
- The Warriors allowed just five total shots and only one save opportunity for Labajo.
- George Fox's lone goal came on a penalty kick in the 33rd minute.
- Corban committed only three fouls in the match, compared to 11 by the Bruins.
- Through three matches this season, the Warriors have conceded just two goals.
While the result was not reflective of the overall run of play, the Warriors will look to carry Sunday's performance into the next phase of the season. Corban showed it can control possession, limit quality opportunities, and create chances against anyone in the Pacific Northwest, including soon-to-be prospective DIII opponents, leaving plenty of positives to build upon despite the very narrow setback.
The Navy and Gold will return to Salem on Friday, September 4th, to host Pacific Union College (0-2-0) at the Outdoor Athletic Complex for their official home opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 1pm as the Warriors look to bounce back in front of their home crowd.
Follow Corban Athletics:
Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | YouTube | Email | Photo Galleries
