Knights, Geoducks Battle to 1-1 Draw
BOX SCORE
PORTLAND, Ore. – After 90 minutes of regulation and two overtime periods, Warner Pacific and Evergreen State settled for a 1-1 draw in Cascade Conference men’s soccer action today in Portland.
Both teams left the field ruing their missed chances and opportunities to score, particularly the host Knights (7-4-3, 5-3-3 CCC) who had a chance to tally the winning goal via penalty kick. The Geoducks (4-8-2, 3-6-2 CCC) nearly conceded goals on several occasions, but also saw their own chances go begging.
Warner Pacific struck first, as Almir Celebic scored in the the 22nd minute after a pass from Alija Sacirovic. The first half ended with the lone goal as neither team found much success on the attack.
The action picked up after the break, as each team hit woodwork and other shots were close to the target. Evergreen keeper Christian Pettit made several key saves, including a stop of a Tarik Subasic shot late in the half. Grant Bateman cracked a try that just sailed high for WPC as well.
Evergreen equalized in the 83rd minute thanks to a George Bundy free kick from 20 yards away. His attempt curled around the defensive wall and found the net just under the crossbar.
The key moment was in the 84th minute, as Celebic was fouled by Pettit in the penalty area. WPC’s Jordan Selland stepped to attempt the kick, but his effort went wide left and the Greeners found new life.
The two overtime periods were uneventful, as neither team seriously threatened at goal and the game ended deadlocked at a goal each.
Warner Pacific now sits just out of playoff position at in 4th place in the CCC standings, three points behind Corban with three games to play.