The Corban women’s soccer team placed its foot on the gas early on Friday evening, scoring thrice in the first half to secure a convincing 3-0 victory. (Photo Credit: Doug Pfeiler)
SALEM, Ore. – The Corban University women's soccer team placed its foot on the gas early on Friday evening, scoring thrice in the first half to secure a convincing victory over the Multnomah University Lions, 3-0.
"The team looked very good today," said head coach Likius Hafeni. "We needed a good result and I thought the team played well and executed the game plan well. We scored early which was very good for our psychologically, and after that we dominated the game. We will look to play well tomorrow in order to make the playoffs."
It didn't take long for the Navy and Gold to draw first blood, with the Warriors' leading goal-scorer Rylee MacDonald blasting in her seventh goal of the season from roughly 35 yards out in the 8th minute of play.
Trying to keep pace, Hannah Shore—Corban's other primary offensive weapon throughout the 2018 season—notched her sixth goal of the year after volleying in a brilliant cross from Hannah Hersh midway through the first half.
After MacDonald struck again in the 30th minute, the Warriors had a resounding 3-0 advantage heading into the half, preserving the lead in a scoreless second stanza en route to the shutout victory.
Elizabeth Brock was outstanding in between the pipes for Hafeni and the Warriors, with Monique Heiniger—playing in her first minutes of 2018—notching an impressive four saves in the final 16 minutes to preserve the shutout.
A lot rides on tomorrow's match-up, the Navy and Gold's final regular-season game. A win in tomorrow night's face-off with Warner Pacific University ensures a spot in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Tournament for the Warriors, with Corban currently tied in the eighth and final spot with the University of Providence. With Corban's regular-season defeat of Providence on September 22, the Warriors possess the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Argos, meaning Corban controls its own destiny heading into the final game of the 2018 regular-season.
The crucial CCC match-up will take place tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the CFC Soccer Complex, with Corban's seniors also being honored before the game. Senior day festivities are scheduled to take place 15 minutes prior to kick-off.