Geoducks Down No. 25 Warner Pacific, 4-3
PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Warner Pacific men’s soccer team, just just hours after receiving a No. 25 ranking in the latest NSCAA coaches poll, lost a nailbiter Tuesday night, falling 4-3 to Evergreen State. After taking a 2-0 lead early in the second half, the Knights allowed four second-half goals to the Geoducks, eventually surrendering the game-winner with just over six minutes remaining. Luis Galvan had a goal and two assists on the night for the Knights. Warner Pacific falls to 7-3-0 (3-1-0 Cascade Collegiate Conference) while Evergreen State improves to 2-6-0 (1-3-0 CCC).
The Knights took a 1-0 lead into halftime after Davor Lukic continued his blistering scoring streak with his eighth goal of the season, knocking in a shot from two yards out off a perfect cross from Galvan in the 31st minute. The Knights jumped ahead 2-0 less than two minutes into the second half, when freshman Alija Sacorivic headed in a corner kick from Galvan. But the lead was short-lived as the Geoducks scored twice in a span of four minutes, with Jesse Wheelock cutting the lead to 2-1 off a perfectly placed free kick in the 54th minute and with Obed Kuossi tying it at 2-2 in the 58th minute after tapping in a shot by Cody Wooden that the Warner Pacific defense was unable to clear.
Galvan put the Knights up 3-2 in the 70th minute after taking a pass from Chris Price and dribbling around Geoducks keeper Nathan Salveson to score from a yard out. But the Geoducks responded once again just three minutes later when Shawn Farrow made a long run from the midfield stripe, got around two Knights defenders at the top of the box, and then sent a slow roller near post past keeper Julio Loza, who entered the game in the second half.
With the game tied at 3-3 and appearing to be headed for overtime, the Geoducks scored the game winner in the 83rd minute when Obed Koassi took the ball away from the Knights defense near in the midfield and had a long run toward the Knights goal. Koassi passed the ball to Farrow, who netted his second goal of the night on a shot from six yards out.
It was a frustrating night for the Knights, outshooting the Geoducks 18-8 and having a 10-4 advantage in corner kicks. It was also a physical game, tensions running high with five yellow cards being shown and 43 total fouls called.
The Knights will look to bounce back at Northwest University on October 7 before another showdown with rival Concordia (whom the Knights defeated 3-1 last weekend) set for October 11.