Holly Martinez Moorman scored the game-winning golden goal for Corban in the 2-1 win. (Photo Credit: Doug Pfeiler)
SALEM, Ore. – For the second-straight contest, the Corban University women’s soccer team went into double overtime, and for the second-consecutive match, the Warriors came out on top, 2-1. On Friday afternoon, it was the University of Great Falls that the Warriors defeated, and it was in dramatic fashion in the first Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) match of the year.
“We worked hard to get a result today,” said Corban head coach Likius Hafeni. “It was a good start winning the first game of the conference, and we look forward to our next game against Carroll tomorrow.”
The first half saw one good chance for both sides, as Corban senior forward Randi Donahue got in behind the defense and had a one-on-one breakaway for the Warriors, but her shot was saved, by Kyra Dorvall, keeping the Warriors off the board. Not long after, Great Falls (0-4, 0-1 CCC) had a golden opportunity when Eme McLaughlin got in behind the Warrior defense and had a good look at goal, but put her shot wide.
By the halftime break, the Warriors led in the shot department, 7-2, but it was Great Falls that struck first in the second stanza, as Serafina Robles collected a long throw-in from Sydney Knieriem and buried her shot home from close range, putting the Argos in front.
Corban, knowing it needed to find an equalizer, pushed numbers forward late in the contest, and eventually the goal came. With what started as a corner-kick, the ball eventually fell to the feet of Warrior sophomore forward Lexi McQueary, and she blasted home a left-footed shot to tie the contest at 1-1 in the 76th minute of play. For McQueary, it was her team-leading fourth goal on the year.
The two sides remained tied for the rest of regulation, and then despite racking up five shots in the first overtime, the match was still tied, sending it to a second overtime stanza.
In that second overtime, Donahue received a pass on the right side and got around the right edge, cutting a ball back to an onrushing Holly Martinez Moorman, and Martinez Moorman calmly slotted her game-winning golden goal into the left-side netting, winning the match for the Warriors. For Martinez Moorman, her first career-goal could not have come at a better time, lifting the Navy and Gold to the CCC-opening victory.
Corban finished the game with a 23-6 shots advantage, and defensively, Warrior goalkeeper Sheyenne Brusven came up with a pair of saves in Corban’s fifth win of the season.
Corban (5-3, 1-0 CCC) returns to action tomorrow when it hosts defending CCC Champion, Carroll College. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at Warrior Field.