Nic Farr scored a bicycle kick goal on Friday in the 2-0 win over Embry-Riddle. (Photo Credit: Jessica Marple)
SALEM, Ore. – The Corban University men's soccer team scored two world-class goals on Friday in its official 2015 home-opener, defeating Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) in a thrilling contest at Warrior Field, 2-0. The win for Corban is its fifth-consecutive season-opening shutout victory, dating back to the 2011 season.
To watch video highlights of goals, click 'Play' button on story photo above.
Both teams entered the contest knowing it was going to be a battle as both were receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches Top-25 poll. In what was an evenly-played first half, neither side had great looks on goal, although the closest opportunity came when the Eagles headed a ball off of the top of the crossbar and over the goal late in the half.
Corban led Embry Riddle during the first half in shots, 3-2, while the Warriors also earned the game's only corner kick.
The second stanza proved to be much different, as Corban came out flying, almost scoring three times inside of the first five minutes of the new period. With the Warriors all over the Eagles, Embry-Riddle responded with a couple of efforts themselves, but it was eventually Corban that found the breakthrough in the 77th minute of play.
Following an offside call on the Eagles, Corban sophomore goalkeeper Jordan Farr (Turner, Ore.) laced a long ball over the top of the Embry-Riddle defense, and Warrior junior midfielder Armando Guevara (Salem, Ore.) let the ball bounce twice and ripped a left-footed shot off the half volley into the right side-netting, putting the Navy and Gold in front. For Guevara, it was his first-career Warrior goal.
Five minutes later, freshman forward Nic Farr (Turner, Ore.) made a name for himself in first collegiate contest, scoring one of the best goals in Corban's history. Following a defensive clearance from the Eagles, senior defender Tim Kagey (West Linn, Ore.) one-timed a ball over the top and found Farr onside and lurking behind the Eagles' defense. Farr took one touch with his foot, then headed the ball up in the air and pulled off the acrobatic bicycle kick, scoring to double Corban's lead and seal the win for the Warriors.
"The two goals were phenomenal final touches, but our chances seem to always come after high work rate and unselfish play," said head coach Aaron Lewis. "I enjoyed seeing our group reflect our desire to be solid defensively throughout all of our lines. The conditions today made it challenging to be technical, so our guys had to generate opportunities in other ways."
The Warriors finished off the contest from there, winning the match by two goals over a very good Embry-Riddle side. Corban outshot the Eagles, 13-10, while the corner-kicks tally finished even at 5-5. J. Farr, in his first game back since missing the entire 2014 season to injury, racked up five saves in the shutout win.
"I respect Coach Pearce a great deal, and it is obvious that he has an impressive program building at Embry-Riddle," said Lewis. "I want to thank them for making the trip to Oregon to play this exciting early-season matchup, and we look forward to continuing this relationship when we travel to Prescott next August. This game was important to us, as we knew Embry Riddle's quality would test us in various ways, and we felt that today we had an opportunity to make progress on the National scene if we competed well against the Eagles."
Offensively, N. Farr led the way for Corban with five shots, while Guevara tallied three. For Embry-Riddle (1-1), Tristan Tomburro, Isaac Sanchez, and Chase Rinehart each registered two shots on the afternoon.
After the contest, Guevara and Farr talked about the exciting win in a post-game interview:
Corban (2-0) returns to action on Tuesday, September 1, when it hosts Trinity Western University (Canada). Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at Warrior Field. Be sure to follow the action via live stats and the live video feed.