Sophomore newcomer Arsinio Walker would help lead Corban's men's soccer team to a season-opening victory over Trinity Lutheran Wednesday, as he tallied a team-high tying four shots from his striker position.
Corban Opens Season With Shutout Win Over Trinity Lutheran
BOX SCORE
SALEM, Ore. – Corban University's men's soccer team opened the 2012 season by scoring the second most goals in a season-opener in program history, as the Warriors defeated Trinity Lutheran, 6-0, Wednesday on Warrior Field.
"It's good to get a win any day, but in particular against a team the quality of Trinity Lutheran," said head coach Paul Meehan. "Do not let the scoreboard fool you, as that is a very good team and some things did not go their way. I give a lot of credit to our guys for creating the opportunities and putting the pressure on Trinity Lutheran's defense like they did. That is such a good win because that is such a good team."
Six different Warriors scored goals for Corban, as senior Aaron Kinnes registered the eventual game-winner thanks to a header from 10 yards out in the fifth minute. Along with Kinnes, senior Juan Castillo, freshman Mitchell Graham, junior Steffan Bard, freshman Taylor Satcher, and freshman Kellen Luey all tallied goals for Corban.
Exactly nine years ago today, then-Western Baptist opened the 2003 season with a 9-0 victory over Northwest en route to scoring the most goals in a season-opener in program history. Today's goal total marked the highest scoring total by the Warriors since last season when Corban put five goals on the board against Evergreen on October 19th in Olympia.
Following Corban's game-winner at the 4:55 mark via Kinnes' goal off an assist by Castillo, the senior transfer from Warner Pacific would put the Warriors up by a pair of goals in the 25th minute when he took a ball along the far sideline and dribbled through a pair of Trinity Lutheran defenders before striking a shot into the lower left corner of the goal for his first score as a Warrior. Castillo would score his first goal since 2010 when he played at fellow CCC member Warner Pacific in Portland.
Just over 14 minutes later, Graham would get into the scoring act when he headed home a free kick from fellow freshman James Williamson at the 38:56 mark for a three-goal Corban lead.
The score would remain a three-goal advantage for Corban until the 77th minute when Bard came off the bench and tallied the fourth goal of his career. After an initial shot at goal, Bard would steal an attempted clearance from TLC's defense and drop a slow roller underneath the diving net-minder for Corban's fourth score of the afternoon.
Less than a minute later, Satcher would get his first collegiate goal off another assist from Castillo at the 77:01 mark. Castillo would begin the play by sending a crossing pass from the far sideline up and over the defense to an awaiting Satcher, who headed home Corban's fifth goal of the day.
The game's final score would come in the 84th minute when Luey unleashed a one-timer from 18 yards out that ricocheted off the crossbar before falling behind the endline for the first goal of his collegiate career. Luey would team with Kinnes and sophomore Derik Chaney on the goal, as Kinnes began the play with a throw-in to Chaney who headed the ball back to an awaiting Luey.
Corban would platoon keepers, as sophomore Steven Mason played the first 76-plus minutes registering a game-high seven saves before freshman Nash Yamauchi stood between the pipes for the final 13-plus minutes recording one save in his collegiate debut.
For Trinity Lutheran, Armend Makolli was the offensive leader registering four shots without any finding the back of the net. The Eagles would split time in goal between starter Daniel Nadeau and back-up Roman Vasquez. Both keepers would allow three goals, while each registered three saves during their time between the pipes.
Overall, Corban would tally six more shots (22-to-16) than Trinity Lutheran that also included six more shots on goal (14-to-8) than the Eagles. Trinity Lutheran would control the corner kicks, as the Eagles earned five more (9-to-4) than the Warriors.
With today's win, Corban pushes its season-opener winning streak to five and improves to 1-0-0 in 2012. Meanwhile, Trinity Lutheran drops its first game of the season falling to 4-1-0. These same two teams will meet in Corban's next game on Tuesday, September 4th, beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the all-new Lynnwood High School in Lynnwood, Washington.