After losing two conference matches in a row Evergreen looks forward to two more this coming weekend.
The Evergreen State College Men’s Soccer Team dropped two games over the weekend losing 4-2 to Warner Pacific University and 2-1 to College of Idaho. The Warner Pacific game saw Evergreen take early command of the game pressuring Warner high up the field. The Evergreen pressure paid off when Takashi Matsuno (Koshigaya, Japan / Jr., Tacoma CC) won possession in the attacking third and sent Brice Boum (Lacey, WA / So., Edmonds CC) past the Warner Pacific Keeper. Boum coolly slotted home to give Evergreen the early 1-0 lead.
Warner answered less than 10 minutes later when Joel Duenas headed home a cross from Brandon Tatum to equalize. The teams traded goals early in the second half with Juan Castillo cutting through the Evergreen defense to score in the 53rd minute, and Brice Boum (Lacey, WA / So., Edmonds CC) collecting a Dyson Fowler (Sammamish, WA / Fr., Mt Si HS) pass before tucking the ball past the onrushing Warner keeper in the 65th minute.
Warner benefited from some sloppy defensive play as Evergreen was unable to deal with a long clearance from Warner Pacific keeper Drew Bonifacio. The bouncing through-pass slipped past the Evergreen defense and settled at the feet of Duenas who calmly slid the ball past keeper Christian Petitt (Spring Branch, TX / Fr., University Texas San Antonio). Warner salted the game away when Alex Patino tucked a Julian Esquivel pass into the net for number four.
Twenty five hours and four hundred miles later, Evergreen took to the field against College of Idaho in Caldwell. Evergreen’s revamped defense took a blow 30 seconds into the game as defender Chris Miller (Auburn, WA / Jr., Jeffferson HS) and goalkeeper Christian Petitt collided while attempting to deal with a COI long ball. While Miller was eventually able to return to play, Petitt was not, having broken his nose in 5 places. College of Idaho was able gain advantage through a Brian Buckingham header off a corner kick in the eleventh minute.
The game was an attractive, well contested affair, with Evergreen ultimately tying through Obed Kouassi (Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire / Sr. Whatcom CC) in the 64th minute. College of Idaho came straight back to take the lead when Zach Veasy one timed a Brad Byers free kick into the goal past back-up keeper Peter Durland (Seattle, WA / Fr., Nathan Hale HS). While Evergreen put COI under increasing pressure, the Geoducks were not able to break through for the equalizer.
Evergreen will take on two more Cascade Conference schools this weekend facing Corban University on Friday followed by Concordia University (Ore.) on Saturday.