CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Warner Pacific University men’s soccer team was named the Under Armour Team of the Week for November 10 – 16, the Cascade Collegiate Conference announced Sunday.
The No. 4 seeded Knights opened the tournament with a 3-1 quarterfinal victory over No. 5 seed College of Idaho, powered by a two-goal performance from Bodo Calderon and another strike from Bryan Carmona. Goalkeeper Owen Purvis anchored the effort with six saves.
WPU followed with a 2-0 semifinal win over No. 3 seed Rocky Mountain College, as Damian Palominos scored on a header just before halftime and Abe Fuchs added an early second-half insurance goal. Purvis posted his second straight shutout with four saves as the Knights controlled the match statistically, including a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks.
In Wednesday’s championship match, Warner Pacific secured its third CCC Tournament title with a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over No. 2 seed Carroll College. After a scoreless opening half, Carmona put the Knights ahead in the 75th minute before Carroll equalized in the 82nd. WPU sealed the championship in the 99th minute when Bryan Sanguino headed home the golden goal off a corner from Sergio Varela.
With the tournament sweep, Warner Pacific (14-4-2) claimed the CCC’s second automatic berth to the NAIA National Championship. The Knights will travel to West Palm Beach, Fla., to face defending national champion Dalton State (Ga.) in the NAIA Opening Round on November 20.