Evergreen's Jeff Roland score the game-winning goal in the final ten seconds of regulation, as Evergreen clinched a playoff berth with a victory Saturday over Corban on Warrior Field in Salem.
Evergreen Clinches Playoff Berth With Last-Second Goal Against Corban
BOX SCORE
SALEM, Ore. – Evergreen's Jeff Roland scored an unassisted goal with seven seconds remaining in regulation, as the Geoducks clinched a playoff spot with a 1-0 Cascade Collegiate Conference victory over Corban Saturday on Warrior Field.
With today's result, Evergreen improves to 9-5-0 overall and 9-2-0 in conference play with the Geoducks also tied the school's mark for most conference victories in a single season. Meanwhile, Corban has its record evened a 6-6-3 overall and 5-5-1 in Cascade Collegiate Conference action.
In a game that was dominated offensively by Corban, the Warriors could not put any of their 22 shots into the back of the net with Evergreen capitalizing on just 20% of its shots that included the last-second game-winner.
Over the opening 45 minutes, Corban would register 16 shots versus Evergreen's three as the Warriors peppered the Geoducks' goal on five seperate occasions that included a pair of nifty saves on shots by Josh Hamilton and Daniel Fredrickson.
Both teams would play an even match in the second half, as Corban tallied six shots versus Evergreen's two. The Warriors' best scoring chance came in the 80th minute when sophomore Arsinio Walker got his head on the ball only for the shot to find the awaiting arms of the Geoducks' keeper.
In the final minute of regulation, Evergreen began its offensive push and earned a corner kick with 15 seconds on the clock. The Geoducks' Willie Spurr would send a bending ball into the box where a Corban defender cleared it off the line only to find the foot of Roland, who one-timed a line drive from 30 yards out into the upper right corner past a diving Corban keeper for the game-winner with seven seconds left on the clock.
Corban would attempt one final push off the restart, but could not get the equalizer.
Evergreen's Mauricio Sanchez registered a game-high six saves en route to recording the shutout, while Corban's Steven Mason was not challenged a lot through out the game needing to make only one save on five Evergreen shots.
Offensively, Corban would register 17 more shots (22-to-5) than Evergreen that included a 6-to-2 advantage in shots on goal. The host Warriors would earn four more corner kicks (7-to-3) with the visiting Geoducks being whistled for 11 more fouls (19-to-8) than Corban.
Both teams will return to action on Wednesday, October 24th, with Corban traveling to Klamath Falls to take on Oregon Tech. Meanwhile, Evergreen will host Warner Pacific in Olympia. Both games are scheduled to kick off at 3:00 p.m.