SALEM, Ore. – For the second-straight year, the Corban University men's soccer team and Southern Oregon Raiders played to a draw in their highly-anticipated regular-season duel. The two Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) heavyweights went head-to-head in the pouring rain on Friday afternoon at the CFC Soccer Complex, delivering a number of thrilling moments en route to a 2-2 (2OT) final score.
The squads put on a similar performance last season down in Ashland, with the two in-state rivals also settling for a draw (0-0) on September 30, 2018.
The first half was uncharacteristically quiet for the high-powered offenses, with Southern Oregon mustering five shots and Corban firing off just two in the scoreless first period.
The No. 21-ranked Warriors drew first blood in the 66th minute, with Matheus Giron ripping his eighth goal of the season into the left-side netting to put the Navy and Gold ahead.
With momentum shifted in Corban's favor, Raider defender Michael Miller delivering a shocking blow just seven minutes later, blasting a free kick into the back of the net to erase the deficit.
There appeared to be some miscommunication on the defensive end for the Warrior on the play, which paved the way for Miller's ball to sneak through untouched; however, it doesn't take away from the impressive nature of Miller's strike, which came from just a few yards shy of the halfway line.
With his teammates and bench electrified, Alan Gaytan added another goal just a few minutes later (76'), giving the Raiders a late lead.
Frantically searching for an equalizer as the clock wound down, Corban's Kohl Hurtado delivered one of the Warriors' most remarkable goals in recent memory. The reigning All-CCC forward took advantage of a narrow window between a pair of Raider defenders at the 18-yard mark, hooking one just inside the right corner—merely inches beyond the outstretched dive of Southern Oregon goalkeeper Wyatt Zabinski—to even the score at two.
Despite a few promising chances on both sides, neither team managed to land a game-winner, leading to the 2-2 stalemate at the end of a pair of overtime periods.
In goal, Zabinski finished the night with a trio of saves, while Corban's Justin Keegan earned four.
With the tie, Southern Oregon (7-5-1, 5-2-1 CCC) ends a nine-game win streak for the Navy and Gold.
Corban (10-0-2, 8-0-1 CCC) has still yet to be defeated in 2019, and will have another opportunity to defend its home turf tomorrow against Oregon Tech. The game is set to kickoff at 12:30 p.m.