Marissa Telarroja notched a pair of shots on the afternoon for the Warriors. (Photo Credit: Doug Pfeiler)
SALEM, Ore. – The Corban University women’s soccer team racked up 42 shots on Thursday afternoon at Warrior field to just eight for Oregon Tech, but Owl goalkeeper Rebekah Matteri came up with an incredible 13 saves to help preserve the 0-0 draw. Both teams remain winless in Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) play after sharing the spoils on Thursday.
The Warriors began the game on the front foot right away, applying pressure while trying to find the game’s opening goal. Freshman forward Sadee Kallis (Yakima, Wash.) and junior midfielder Randi Donahue (Bellingham, Wash.) both registered shots early on, but Matteri was there to make the saves.
Late in the first half, sophomore midfielder Amber Lennier (Tracy, Calif.) ripped a right-footed shot that was headed for the top-right corner of the goal, but again, Matteri sprawled at full stretch to make the diving stop. Additionally, freshman midfielder Marissa Telarroja (Claremont, Calif.) had a good look at goal, but she could not find the back of the net as her shot was saved.
At the half, Corban was leading Oregon Tech in the shot department, 14-2, with Matteri recording four saves in the period. The Warriors also tallied four corner kicks to none for the Owls (5-5-1, 0-2-1 CCC) during the first 45 minutes, but none resulted in a goal.
The second stanza began with more opportunities for Corban, as junior forward Katelyn Fekkes (Stanwood, Wash.) recorded a pair of shots, but both were blocked.
With the Warriors continuing to press in search of the game-winner, the Owls snuck in behind the Corban defense on a couple of occasions, almost stealing a goal late. Warrior senior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Mendenhall (Windsor, Calif.) came up big however, totaling three saves during the second half.
The match remained tied, and in overtime Corban notched a couple of good opportunities in the first extra period, with Kallis ripping another shot on goal, but Matteri was there once again to make the save.
In the second overtime period, Donahue almost won it for Corban when she had a point-blank shot on goal with time running out, but Matteri saved the Owls once again by making a diving stop.
The match ended in the nil-nil draw, with Corban owning the 42-8 shot advantage and 8-3 corner-kick edge. Both Corban and Oregon Tech are still in search of their first goal in CCC play.
Kallis led the way for Corban with seven shots, while Donahue and Fekkes registered six apiece.
For Oregon Tech, Amanda Hisey notched a team-high three shots.
“Soccer is an interesting game sometimes,” commented head coach Marty Ziesemer. “We did everything right but score. You would think that with having 42 shots we would at least have a lucky bounce. Now we have to regroup and come back at it on Saturday.”
Corban (5-5-2, 0-2-1 CCC) returns to action on Saturday and will look to earn its first conference win of the 2014 campaign when it hosts Southern Oregon University at Warrior Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.