Freshman James Myrvold would register a game-high four saves, as Corban battled cross-town rival Willamette to a season-opening 1-1 tie Wednesday night at Sparks Field.
Missed Chances Result in Season-Opening Tie for Corban
BOX SCORE
SALEM, Ore. – Hours after being cleared eligibility-wise, junior reserve Thomas Brempong (Kumasi, Ghana) scored the game-tying goal in Corban's season-opening 1-1 tie in double overtime Wednesday night against cross-town rival Willamette at Sparks Field.
Brempong's first goal as a Warrior came in the 53rd minute via a header off a corner kick from freshman Aaron Kinnes (Gladstone, Ore.) before Corban and Willamette battled to a deadlock over the final 47-plus minutes. With tonight's tie, Corban retains the Capital Cup that is awarded to the winner of the annual Warrior-Bearcat game after picking up a 1-0 victory last year.
Willamette would begin the evening's scoring via a goal in the 9th minute by Brendan Dineen off an assist from Mike McGrew. Dineen would put the host Bearcats on the board early when he unleashed a shot from 12 yards out that would elude Corban's net-minder into the lower right corner.
Just over 10 minutes later, Willamette starting keeper Eben Hellekson was whistled for a hard foul in the box that resulted in a red card ejection and a penalty kick for the Warriors. Unfortunately, Corban could not convert on the PK and the host Bearcats would carry their one-goal lead into halftime.
In the second half, Corban would unleash its offensive attack before Brempong deposited the equalizer into the back of the net just over 10 minutes into the final 45 minutes of play.
Neither team would score again, as Corban ricocheted numerous shots off Willamette's goal frame with none finding the back of the net. Therefore, the visiting Warriors would have to settle for a double overtime tie in first-year head coach Paul Meehan's debut at the helm.
Corban's freshman goalkeeper James Myrvold (Sandy, Ore.) stood between the pipes for the entire 110 minutes en route to making a game-high four saves. Meanwhile, Willamette would get a pair of saves from Alfredo Zuniga and one team save on a Corban shot in the 28th minute of play.
Following tonight's result, Corban and Willamette open their respective 2010 season with identical 0-0-1 records. The Warriors will return to the field on Saturday, September 4th, when they host Frontier Conference member Rocky Mountain beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Warrior Field.