Lexi McQueary scored in the first half for Corban to tie the game at 1-1. (Photo Credit: J.D. Smith)
SALEM, Ore. – The Corban University women's soccer team fell behind in the first half against a solid NCAA Division II opponent, but the Warriors responded in a big way with three unanswered goals en route to defeating Saint Martin's University at Warrior Field on Saturday afternoon, 3-2. The win is Corban's season-opening victory.
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"Many different players contributed today which is great to see," said head coach Marty Ziesemer. "We had to grind this game out to the end, but the team battled and we were rewarded with a win."
On a very windy day at Warrior Field, neither team created very many quality looks at goal, but it was the Saints who struck first, finding the back of the net when Chelsie Still whipped a ball in behind the Warrior defense on a free kick, and Abby McFaul finished with a one-time hit to give the visitors the lead.
Corban responded towards the end of the first stanza when freshman forward Lexi McQueary (Kennewick, Wash.) was subbed into the contest and caused havoc right away. After sophomore forward Marissa Telarroja (Claremont, Calif.) penetrated forward on a dynamic run and fed the ball to junior midfielder Emily Larick (Redlands, Calif.), Larick dished the ball to McQueary who took a touch and then curled her shot over the goalkeeper and into the top-right corner of the goal to tie the match. For McQueary, it was her first-career collegiate goal.
McQueary started the second stanza for Corban and once again proved vital for the Warriors, getting behind the Saints' defense before pushing the ball past the goalkeeper and then being tripped up by the goalkeeper in the box, earning Corban a penalty-kick. Larick stepped up to the spot for the Navy and Gold, burying her penalty kick calmly into the back of the net to give Corban the lead in the 58th minute of play.
Just a few minutes later, Corban extended its lead when sophomore midfielder Dani Morseman (Cashmere, Wash.) put a long throw-in past the entire Saints' defense and right into the path of sophomore forward Sadee Kallis (Yakima, Wash.), and Kallis made no mistake, one-timing her shot into the goal.
Saint Martin's provided a response in the 66th minute, as McFaul nabbed her second of the game on a follow-up shot, cutting the deficit in half.
The Warriors defense proved too strong after that goal, however, and Corban held on for the 3-2 triumph over the Saints. Corban did have one final chance to put the game out of reach late, but senior forward Katelyn Fekkes (Stanwood, Wash.) saw her shot bang off the right post and away from the goal.
"In the first half, we weren't doing a very good job of being first to the ball," said Ziesemer. "Saint Martins had the wind and outplayed us for most of that first half. In the second half we came out with a bit more desire and hunger. We need to keep improving as we go on the road the next three games against quality opponents. This win goes a long way to building some confidence about what we can accomplish."
For the match, Corban ended up outshooting Saint Martin's, 18-17, while sophomore goalkeeper Sheyenne Brusven (Silverton, Ore.) earned the win, making four saves in the process. Offensively, Kallis and senior forward Randi Donahue (Bellingham, Wash.) both recorded three shots, while McQueary added a trio of shots off the bench as well.
Following the match, McQueary talked about the win in a post-game interview:
Corban (1-1) returns to the pitch on Tuesday when it travels across town to Willamette University to take on the Bearcats. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.