Sophomore Steven Mason became the first Corban goalkeeper to register an assist in almost two years, while also registering his first shutout this season Friday against CCC member Oregon Tech.
Corban Returns to Winning Ways With Shutout of Owls of Oregon Tech
BOX SCORE
SALEM, Ore. – After a scoreless first half, Corban's men's soccer team scored a pair of goals within a five-minute stretch en route to earning a hard-fought 2-0 Cascade Collegiate Conference victory over the visiting Hustlin' Owls of Oregon Tech Friday on Warrior Field.
With today's result, Corban improves to 3-3-3 overall and 2-2-1 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play. Meanwhile, Oregon Tech remains winless on the season falling to 0-7-1 overall and 0-4-0 in league games.
"Today's win is a step in the right direction because we have had a couple of rough spots in the last 10 days," said head coach Paul Meehan. "We stuck to what we wanted to do and the guys executed the game plan. It feels good to get a good performance and get a result out of it at the same time."
Senior Aaron Kinnes and sophomore Arsinio Walker would both score goals for Corban in the second half, while sophomore Steven Mason registered his first shutout of the season and assisted on the game-winning goal for the Warriors.
Corban's defense, which had allowed five goals over the past two games, was up to the challenge today against Oregon Tech as the Hustlin' Owls registered only six total shots (three on-goal) and were not awarded a corner kick over the game's final 45 minutes of play.
"(Our defense) was solid and Steven came up big a couple times," said Meehan. "I thought that the backs were pretty well organized defensively."
In the 54th minute, Corban would break a scoreless tie when Mason sent a long clearance down the far sideline where Kinnes collected the ball and dribbled past one defender finding himself one-on-one with Oregon Tech's keeper. Waiting until the last possible second, Kinnes dribbled at the Owls' net-minder before slotting a shot underneath OIT's final line of defense for his second goal of the season at the 53:22 mark. Mason's 80-yard pass would lead to the first assist of his career and the first by a Corban keeper since former Warrior James Myrvold handed out an assist against The College of Idaho during the 2010 season.
Exactly five minutes later, Corban would add an insurance goal when Walker teamed with fellow sophomore Derik Chaney for his third goal of the season. The scoring play would begin with Chaney dribbling the ball down the near sideline before sending a crossing pass that ricocheted off Oregon Tech's keeper onto the awaiting foot of Walker, who drilled a shot into the back of the net at the 58:22 mark.
Mason would tally a game-high tying three saves, while standing between the pipes for the entire 90 minutes of play. Oregon Tech's Loren Jessen would also tally three saves despite allowing both goals.
Offensively, Corban would register 12 more shots (18-to-6) than Oregon Tech with the Warriors sending two more shots (5-to-3) on goal than the Hustlin' Owls. Corban was awarded six more corner kicks (10-to-4) than OIT that included a 6-0 advantage in the second half.
Corban will return to the field tomorrow – Saturday, September 29th – against the visiting Coyotes of The College of Idaho beginning at approximately 3:00 p.m. on Warrior Field in Salem following the women's game between Corban and C of I. Meanwhile, Oregon Tech will conclude its CCC road weekend against Northwest Christian beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Mike Kelly Field in Springfield.