Salem, Ore. – Shutouts aplenty surround the Corban Men’s Soccer team (3-0, 0-0) to begin the 2022 season, as the third straight scoreless effort from the Warriors’ defense resulted in Corban sweeping both soccer matchups with cross-town rival and NCAA DIII school Willamette University (0-0, 0-0), downing the Bearcats for the second straight night at Sparks Field, 3-0.
Tonight’s game was originally scheduled as an exhibition contest for Willamette, while Corban elected to count the result towards the Warriors’ overall record.
“It’s great to get a win when you aren’t at your best. We are grateful for the result,” Corban Head Coach Tim Kagey said as he explained some insight into the behind the scenes of tonight’s match.
“Willamette is always a very well coached and organized group. We look forward to our match on Saturday back in front of our fans,” Kagey concluded.
Corban Men’s Soccer posted their 8th straight win or tie against the Bearcats, dating back to September of 2009 when they clinched their first victory against Willamette.
A Corban transfer student-athlete was the first to break the goal line for the Warriors, as junior midfielder Gian Gargurevich scored the first goal of his Corban career in the 28th minute, thanks to a phenomenally placed corner kick from senior defender Noah Dreves. Gargurevich blasted a touch off his left foot off the right-sided corner kick, flying well above Bearcat starting goalkeeper Alexander Tapia gloves into the upper right corner of the goal.
Warrior fans know the second goal scorer of the contest quite well from years past, as sophomore midfielder Alexis Luna found the back of the net for the first goal of his 2022 campaign. In the 31st minute, senior midfielder Saad Mohacht flew down the right sideline and across midfield for the Warriors, who found a streaking Luna right in line with the Bearcats defensive line. Luna out sped the remainder of Willamette defenders to crush a shot over Tapia and into the upper left corner of the net.
After the Warriors’ second goal of the evening, tempers started to flare, and actions resulted in severe penalties for the Bearcats. When a red card in the 32nd minute forced a player out of the contest, Willamette was forced to play a man down for the remainder of this game.
Gargurevich wasn’t done just yet, as he found Corban’s combo midfielder/forward and leading goal scorer, Andres Labate, in the middle of the penalty box with just 15 minutes left in the contest. Labate bobbed left, then right, then threw a last-ditch effort strike as he was falling to the ground, stinging the ball just hard enough to score on Tapia once again.
Corban senior midfielder Yuki Onishi led the Warriors with three shots, two of which were on goal. Midfielder Pierce Gallaway assisted the Bearcats’ offensive efforts with four shots.
Warriors’ goalkeeper Quinn McCallion keeps racking up the shutout performances this season with his one save and zero goals effort, as the 3-0 win provides him with this conference leading third shutout. McCallion has begun the 2022 season with three-straight shutouts, keeping a perfect 0.00 goals against average (GAA), and requiring just two saves this entire season.
As a team, Corban outshot Willamette 14-9 overall, and 6-1 when it came to shots on goal. The Warriors slightly held the corner kick advantage (7-6) and committed four more fouls than the Bearcats (16-12).
Corban Men’s Soccer will return home to the Outdoor Athletic Complex this upcoming Saturday night, when they will play host to the Soka University of America Lions at 7:30pm PDT.
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