Senior Tyler Grove got the Warriors off on the right foot this season with his game-winning goal against George Fox at the Capital Classic.
Grove's Goal Leads Corban Past Bruins of George Fox 1-0
BOX SCORE
SALEM, Ore. – Senior Tyler Grove (North Marion, Ore.) scored the game's lone goal in the 68th minute, as Corban's men's soccer team began its season with a 1-0 victory over the Bruins of George Fox Friday in the second game of the Capital Classic at Warrior Field.
Playing for the first time all season, the Warriors looked to be in control for a majority of the game. In the opening 45 minutes, Corban controlled the offensive flow only to out shoot the visiting Bruins by a mere shot (4-3). In the second half, Corban began to apply the offensive pressure and had numerous chances to get on the scoreboard.
Just over 12 minutes into the second half, Grove capitalized on one of Corban's scoring chances when he took a crossing pass from freshman Johnathon Johnson (Dallas, Ore.). In vintage Grove style, the 6-foot-1 forward leapt into the air and balloted the shot into the back of the net past a diving George Fox keeper for the game's lone goal. Today's strike marked Grove's fifth goal of his career as a Warrior.
George Fox had a pair of scoring opportunities in both halves, as senior defender Daniel Steffen (Oregon City, Ore.) came up big for Corban in both instances. With no one left guarding the Warriors' goal, George Fox attempted to put a pair of balls into the back of the net only to have Steffen step in at the last minute and kick the ball over the end line forcing a pair of Bruin corner kicks, leaving the net empty and George Fox scoreless.
Junior net-minder Aaron Franklin (Red Bluff, Calif.) played the entire 90 minutes between the pipes for Corban and was not challenged by the Bruins' offense. The 5-foot-11 keeper did not make a save on the afternoon en route to securing the season-opening shutout.
On the other hand, George Fox's goalie Jake Maguire made a game-high six saves but could not keep the Warriors out of the net en route to suffering the loss.
Overall, Corban out shot George Fox by 12 shots (14-2) that included a 10-1 second half difference. In a very physical game, both teams were whistled for a combined 28 fouls with five yellow cards being handed out.
With the victory, Corban moves to 1-0-0 on the young season. Meanwhile, George Fox opens its '08 campaign at 0-1-0. Both teams are back in action on Saturday, August 30th, when the Capital Classic moves to the campus of Willamette University.
Tomorrow night's action begins when George Fox does battle with Warner Pacific at 4:30 p.m., while co-Classic hosts Corban and Willamette will go toe-to-toe in a 7:00 p.m. contest. Both games will take place on Sparks Field.