SALEM, Ore – For the opening 45 minutes Saturday afternoon, the Corban University women's soccer team kept an opportunity to challenge No. 9-ranked College of Idaho within reach. Despite spending much of the first half defending against the Yotes' aggressive attack, the Warriors entered halftime trailing by just one goal. That narrow margin would not last, however, as College of Idaho struck three times after the break to hand Corban a 4-0 defeat at the Outdoor Athletic Complex. The loss closed a difficult conference weekend for the Warriors, who fell to 3-5-1 overall and 1-2-0 in Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) play. The Yotes improved to an impressive 8-1-0 and remained perfect in conference competition at 4-0-0.
"C of I is a top team and really tested us today. We need to be better defensively and this weekend showed us that. We are excited to compete again next weekend," Corban head coach Tim Kagey said.
Coming off Friday's 2-0 loss to Eastern Oregon University, the Warriors faced yet another demanding assignment against a nationally ranked opponent. College of Idaho tested redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Jordyn Labajo early, with Alondra Osuna and Gracie Walt both placing shots on target in the opening 12 minutes. Labajo turned away both attempts, but the visitors found their breakthrough in the 17th minute when Abbi Roubidoux finished an opportunity created by Rylee Russell.
The remainder of the half became a test of whether Corban could keep the game close long enough to find an answer. The Yotes generated nine shots and four corner kicks before intermission, while the Warriors went without a shot. Labajo helped prevent that statistical advantage from becoming a larger lead, stopping later attempts from Russell and Roubidoux to send Corban into halftime down 1-0.
The Warriors opened the second half with a corner kick, offering an early opportunity to put pressure on the visitors. Instead, College of Idaho delivered the next decisive moment. Less than five minutes after the restart, Roubidoux scored her second goal off an assist from Madison Little, leaving Corban with a two-goal deficit and an increasingly difficult path back into the match.
Russell continued to threaten, striking the crossbar before having another attempt denied by Labajo. Corban finally tested the opposing goalkeeper in the 65th minute, when redshirt senior forward Kelli Huskic put a shot on frame. Yotes' starting goalkeeper Molly McCabe made the save, and the brief opening for the Warriors was followed almost immediately by another setback. Just 24 seconds later, Russell scored an unassisted goal to extend the Yotes' lead to 3-0.
Shaelyn Olsen added a fourth goal in the 71st minute on an assist from Osuna, putting the match firmly in College of Idaho's control. Corban still created a late chance through senior midfielder Olivia Fitzpatrick, who followed the Warriors' second corner kick with a shot on target. Substitute goalkeeper Kate Pereur denied the attempt, preserving the visitors' shutout. Labajo remained involved at the other end, making three more saves over the final nine minutes.
Labajo finished with eight saves, evenly divided between the two halves, while Huskic and Fitzpatrick accounted for Corban's two shots, both on goal. Junior defender Bailey Krause, senior midfielder Gabrielle Nakamura, freshman forward Haley Miersma, redshirt junior midfielder Kelsey Guzon, and junior defender Meliah Servatius joined Labajo in playing the full 90 minutes for the Navy and Gold.
Roubidoux's two-goal performance led College of Idaho, while Russell added a goal and an assist. Both forwards finished with four shots apiece. McCabe and Pereur each made one save to combine for the shutout as the Yotes held advantages in shots (18-2), shots on goal (12-2), and corner kicks (6-2).
After consecutive home defeats, the Warriors will have an opportunity to regroup before beginning a four-match CCC road stretch. Corban visits Walla Walla University (0-4-0, 0-3-0) on Friday, October 2nd, for a noon kickoff at the Walla Walla Soccer Complex in College Place, Washington. The trip continues Sunday, October 4th, against Warner Pacific University (2-3-1, 1-2-0) at 10:30am at the Eastside Timbers Sports Complex in Portland. With conference play still in its early stages, the Warriors will look to turn the lessons from a challenging weekend into a stronger pair of performances on the road.
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