The Concordia men's soccer team will now await their seeding in the NAIA Tournament with the chance they could host a first-round match next Saturday, Nov. 19.
Concordia Claims CCC Tournament Trophy
STATS - Concordia vs. Corban
PORTLAND, Ore.--Playing the first game in the newly opened Tuominen Yard on the school’s campus, Concordia defeated Corban University 2-0 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship on Saturday evening.
Undetered by a constant rain that slowed the field down, the Cavaliers started play on their new pitch with four quick corners in the first 21 minutes of the match. Then, on CU's fifth corner, senior Facundo Dipascuale teamed with fellow captain Evan Denmark to give the Cavs, and Tuominen Yard, its first goal.
Dipascuale played the corner up and to the back post. That's where Denmark found the ball a good distance away from other players. With the space, Denmark launched a one-timer from 17 yards out that cut through the group of defenders in front of the goal and into the net.
Concordia (16-1-1) didn't relent after that, either, recording four more corners, eight more shots and four more shots on goal.
Consequently, the Cavs took a 19-to-1 advantage in shots, 10-to-0 advantage in shots on goal and a 9-to-0 advantage in corners into the break.
Still, Corban (11-8-1) remained only one goal down and came out in the second half playing much-improved possession soccer. The Warriors even held a 2-to-1 advantage in shots through the first 11 minutes of the second half.
Corban's Josh Hamilton gave the Warriors their best chance at a goal in that stretch as he rocketed a shot from 30 yards out towards the Cavs goal in the 51st minute. However, the shot sailed just wide of the upper right corner of the net. The Warriors earned a corner off the play, though they couldn't make anything of it.
After that, Concordia again took control of the match over, stringing seven straight shots together and three more corners. Then, off another corner, CU's Jordan Green headed home the team's second goal of the match in the 69th minute.
Forward Septi Danciu took the corner this time around, sending the ball to the middle of the box where it found Green 18 yards out. From there, Green sent his header towards the goal where it bounced almost directly sideways off the left post. The ball just barely crossed the line, but still gave Concordia its 2-0 lead.
Corban's only answer after the score came in the 90th minute when Tillermon Kroon's long shot forced Cavalier goalkeeper Cole Dahle to punch the ball over the cross bar with 26 seconds to go. The Warriors again got nothing out of the ensuing corner, though, and Dahle kept his shutout.
Concordia had a chance to go up 2-0 earlier in the half when Danciu earned a penalty kick off a foul in the box in the 57th minute. However, a rare miss from Facundo Dipascuale on the penalty kept the Cavs searching for its second score.
Corban's Steven Mason played a solid game in the Warrior goal, saving 11 shots, while facing 32 total. Meanwhile, Dahle faced four shots from the Warriors' attackers, recording the one late save.
Overall, Concordia recorded huge advantages in shots (32-to-4), shots on goal (14-to-2) and corners (13-to-2).
Besides the CCC Tournament title, the win gives Concordia the CCC's automatic berth into the NAIA Tournament. In addition, having moved up to No. 9 in the latest NAIA poll, the men have a chance at hosting a first round match next Saturday, Nov. 19. That will be determined when seeding and brackets for the NAIA Tournament are released Sunday along with the final NAIA Coaches' Poll.