Corban's Bobby Hutchin (left) netted the game's only goal in the 32nd minute, as the Warriors clinched a spot in the CCC Tournament with victory over Warner Pacific Saturday in Salem.
Hutchin Helps Corban Clinch Playoff Berth With Win Over Warner Pacific
BOX SCORE
SALEM, Ore. – The duo of Bobby Hutchin and Kemar Prince helped the NAIA's No. 20-ranked Corban University clinch its second playoff berth in the past three seasons, as the Warriors defeated Warner Pacific College, 1-0, Saturday on Warrior Field.
Corban (11-1-2, 8-1-2 CCC) returned to its winning ways following its first loss of the season earlier this week to Concordia, as Hutchin scored his team-high tying fifth goal of the season in the 32nd minute off Prince's team-high tying third assist of the year.
After a scoreless 31-plus minutes, Prince would find Hutchin with a through ball into the box where the first-year Warrior dribbled around Warner Pacific's goalkeeper before pocketing a wide-open shot into the back of the net for the eventual game-winner at the 31:23 mark giving him two game-winning goals on the season.
Warner Pacific (3-9-0, 2-8-0 CCC) would control the offensive flow over the opening 20 minutes before Corban began to slowly chip away at the Knights' armor. Warner Pacific's best scoring chance came in the 15th minute when Riley Bufford forced Corban's goalkeeper Jordan Farr to make his first save of the afternoon before Josh Wright blasted the deflected save high of the goal to keep the game scoreless.
With the target on their back as a nationally-ranked team, the host Warriors had to battle throughout the game with Warner Pacific despite owning a 12-to-6 advantage in total shots. Even though Corban held the advantage in total shots, the host Knights would put one more shot on goal (4-to-3) than the Warriors.
Farr registered a game-high four saves for Corban, as the first-year Warrior picked up his eighth shutout of the season to set a new single-season school-record surpassing former Warrior Mike Patron who accomplished the feat twice (1994 &1997) during his career. At the other end of the field, Warner Pacific's Dorian Lair tallied three saves for the Knights despite allowing the only goal.
Warner Pacific will return to action in a makeup game against Oregon Tech on Monday, October 28th, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at David Douglas High School in Portland. The originally scheduled game between the Knights and Owls at the end of September was postponed due to several puddles on the pitch at David Douglas High School.
Corban will return to action on Friday, November 1st, when the Warriors host The College of Idaho at 3:00 p.m. on Warrior Field in Salem.