Julian Esquivel converted one of WP's PK's in to advance to CCC title match
CALDWELL, Idaho - Warner Pacific converted 3-of-4 penalty kicks in a winner-take-all shootout, as the Knights advanced past The College of Idaho, 3-0, after the two teams played to a 1-1 draw in today’s Cascade Conference Men’s Soccer Tournament semifinal at Simplot Stadium.
WP (9-8-2) will advance to meet top-seeded Concordia on Saturday afternoon to determine the league’s automatic berth to the NAIA Championships.
In the shootout, Tyber Parsons missed the opening chance wide left for the Knights, while the Coyotes’ (10-7-2) Brian Buckingham’s attempt sailed over the crossbar. From there, WP took over, as Julian Esquivel and Jordan Selland touched home successful tries into the right corner of the net, past C of I reserve keeper, Trevor Spielman. No. 2 kicker Zach Veasy was turned away by a diving Sean Ervin, while the third-kicker, Luis Gomez, clanked his shot off the left post. Juan Castillo ended the match, blasting the Knights fourth kick to the top left corner of the net.
WP, who advanced to the NAIA National Tournament last year, started quickly, as Joel Duenas rocketed a 30-yard shot off the crossbar just over a minute into the match, with Alija Sacirovic stopped in the 14th minute by a lunging save from Aaron Reynolds. The Coyotes would turn the tide in the 20th minute, as Brad Byers one-timed a 25-yard blast off the crossbar, with Parker Waddell’s rebound attempt just high. The C of I would strike first in the 23rd minute, as Mats Boehnke one-timed a 25-yard dart into the net off a Buckingham assist.
Reynolds would come up big for the hosts in the 29th minute, a diving one-handed save of a Duenas shot in the area to preserve the lead. However, the Knights would score the equalizer with less than a minute remaining in the half, as following a C of I foul outside the box, Selland launched a free kick that Esquival headed to an unmarked Tarik Subasic, who headed home the goal.
Reynolds continued his stellar play in the second half and through the two overtimes – making seven total saves. He stopped a looping Duenas shot in the 60th minute and punched over the crossbar a Subasic drive in the 62nd minute. The Yotes best opportunity was in the 68th minute, when a one-time Emir Kobic blast from 25-yard clanked off the right post, while early in overtime, Boehnke missed a header just left.
The Knights held a 18-12 edge in total shots and a 5-4 edge in corner kicks.