Evergreen Comes Up Short Against Corban
OLYMPIA - Amber Lennier scored the game's only goal in the first half as the visiting Corban Warriors defeated The Evergreen State College, 1-0, in a Cascade Collegiate Conference women's soccer match played Thursday afternoon at Geoduck Pitch.
With the victory, Corban improves to 7-5-2 overall and 2-2-1 in the conference. The host Geoducks, now 3-8-0 overall and 1-3-0 in the conference, return to conference action at 11 a.m. Saturday when they host Northwest Christian.
The lone goal came 31 minutes into the game and was Lennier's first goal of the season. She got her head to a long throw in by Dani Morseman, and the ball looped over the head of Evergreen keeper Kyle Kitts and into the back of the net. The assist was the second of the season for Morseman.
Both teams had good scoring chances prior to the opening tally. Corban keeper Kaitlyn Mendenhall dove to her right to block a drive by Delaney Smith, and Smith's follow shot sailed over the crossbar at the 28:30 mark of the first half. With about 20 minutes left on the clock Corban's Marissa Telarroja hit the left post with a shot following a corner kick. The visitors had one more good chance with 16 minutes left in the half but Kitts sprawled to her left and got a palm to a shot by Sadee Kallis.
Evergreen got off to a strong start, taking advantage of Vanessa Zamora's speed down the right flank to pressure the Corban defense. Those opportunities dried up later in the period and by the intermission Corban held an 8-7 advantage in shots.
Though the second half was scoreless, both teams had plenty of opportunities, Corban getting off nine shots compared to eight for Evergreen. The Warriors looked to have scored their second goal but an offsides play negated the tally partway through the period.
In the closing minutes, Mendenhall twice came up big for Corban. With about 10 minutes remaining she came off her line and snuffed a shot by Smith, who had gotten behind the Corban defense. About 45 seconds later Mendenhall again charged off her line, sliding and getting to the ball just ahead of Evergreen's Irina Lyons about 30 yards from goal.
Mendenhall finished the game with eight saves and her fifth shutout of the season. Kitts ended up with five saves for Evergreen. Corban had a 7-0 advantage in corner kicks.