Alex Segovia made the game-winning shot in the penalty-kick shootout for Corban. (Photo Credit: JD Smith)
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – The No. 3-seeded Corban University men's soccer team showed incredible grit and continuity on Saturday evening in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Tournament semifinals, outlasting the No. 2-seeded Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears in a penalty-kick shootout to advance to the CCC Tournament Championship game. Thanks to Southern Oregon also advancing to the title game, the Warriors have officially booked their ticket to the NAIA National Championships, earning the CCC's second automatic berth.
"Today our group defended with a championship mentality," said Corban head coach Aaron Lewis. "I'm unbelievably proud of the effort and focus these guys showed throughout this match."
In a match that finished in a double-overtime 0-0 draw, the Warriors had to play down a man for approximately 60 minutes due to a red card early in the second half. While playing its best defense of the year as a team, Corban shut down Rocky Mountain's attack, staving off multiple chances the Battlin' Bears created late on.
Jordan Farr came up with the save of the year late in the second overtime, as after Rocky Mountain fired a laser headed for the top-left corner that would have won the match, Farr sprawled at full stretch to make a one-handed diving save, keeping the match scoreless.
In the penalty-kick shootout, both teams converted their first opportunities, but then Farr came up clutch with a save on Rocky Mountain's second penalty kick, and the Battlin' Bears sent the next kick over the top, putting Corban in a commanding 3-1 lead.
While Rocky Mountain made its fourth, Alex Segovia stepped up to the spot and converted his chance, winning the penalty-kick shootout for the Warriors in the process.
Farr finished the match with four saves throughout the 110 minutes, earning his ninth shutout of the campaign.
For Corban, it marks the fifth-straight year the Warriors have earned a berth to the NAIA National Championships.
Rocky Mountain (16-1-2) remains in a good position to receive an at-large berth to the NAIA National Championships. The announcement of the entire field will take place on Monday, November 13.
Corban (15-1-4) takes on Southern Oregon University in the CCC Tournament Championship match on Monday afternoon at 12 p.m. The match will have live stats/live video here.