Antonio Bautista recorded his NAIA leading 7th GW goal in Yotes win
Short-Handed Goal Lifts C of I by Warner Pacific, 2-1
Box Score
CALDWELL, Idaho - Antonio Bautista scored his fifth-consecutive game-winning goal, pouncing on a rebound in the 77th minute and slotting it home, as The College of Idaho, playing a man down for the final 32 minutes, topped Warner Pacific, 2-1, at Syringa Middle School.
Brian Griffiths started the counter-attack with a run up the middle, with his drive from 35-yards blocked by Knights (9-5, 5-3 CCC) keeper Ted Latta. However, Bautista collected the ball to the left of the goal and found the net for the 16th time this season, lifting the Yotes to their ninth-straight win.
The victory for the Coyotes (10-2-1, 9-0) clinched the outright Cascade Conference South Division title, secured a first-round bye in the CCC Postseason Tournament, along with a home semifinal playoff game.
The Yotes jumped in front in the third minute, as Bautista crossed a ball over the middle of the WP defense, finding Emir Kobic at the left corner of the 18, where he flicked the ball into the right corner of the net. The hosts nearly made it 2-0 in the 33rd minute, as Latta blocked a Kazuki Murata free kick, with the Coyotes pounding the rebound into the net - but were called for offsides, negating the goal.
Things got interesting in the second half, as C of I keeper Aaron Reynolds misplayed a ball in the six-yard box - tackling a WP player to stop a goal, earning an automatic ejection. However, back-up keeper Trevor Spielman made a diving save of Luis Galvan's ensuing penalty kick - keeping the Yotes in front. With the man advantage, the Knights were finally able to crack the Coyotes zone, as Chris Price one-timed a shot off a Galvan pass in the 60th minute to even the score.
The game was pretty even, with WP holding a 15-10 edge in shots and a 9-6 edge in shots on goal - but the Yotes holding a 6-4 margin in corner kicks, including five during the 11-vs-10 period.
The Coyotes return to action tomorrow, also at Syringa Middle School (site of the Idaho 4A State Championships), meeting Corban College at 3 p.m.