PRESCOTT, Ariz. – JP Warnell will misfire a shot at some point, but it still hasn't happened as of Friday night after he and the Southern Oregon men's soccer team earned a 2-1 road win against Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) at Varsity Field.
Warnell, the senior transfer from Camas, Wash., was involved in a pair of first-half goals that stood up to make the Raiders' record 2-0. The first was headed in by 6-foot-5 defender Michael Mutchukian, direct off of Warnell's throw-in to the near side in the 13
th minute.
In the 31
st, Mustafa Daggig started a counter with a long pass skipped to an open field, hitting Warnell in stride before he brought the ball into the box to shoot past one defender and the keeper with precision to make the score 2-0.
Through two games, Warnell has logged four goals on four shot attempts. He was voted the Cascade Conference's Offensive Player of the Week on Monday after debuting with a hat trick against Simpson.
Mutchukian's goal was his first as a Raider. SOU only generated three other shots, none of which were on frame.
Redshirt-freshman keeper Daniel Espinosa was the star of the second half, corralling four saves to preserve the lead and finish with seven total. The only goal he allowed was on Christopher Cruz's 34
th-minute penalty kick.
Since the start of last season, the Raiders have gone unbeaten in seven consecutive non-conference games and won six of them. Only two of those were at home.
They'll finish their trip Sunday with a 7 p.m. game at Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) and return to Raider Stadium Sept. 3-4 to face The Master's (Calif.) and Arizona Christian.