OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Noah Blake (Jr., F) scored a goal for The Evergreen State College on a tap-in near the left post at 83:47 to break a 1-1 tie and send the Geoducks to a 2-1 victory over Pacific University (Ore.) at Geoduck Pitch on Sunday, Sept. 6. The Geoducks remained undefeated at 1-0-2, while Pacific fell to 0-2-0 on the season.
Pacific scored first at 35:30 on a shot by Giovanny Adaya-Ortiz with an assist from Max Bowman. Adaya-Ortiz sent the ball into the lower left corner of the net on a shot from 10 yards. Evergreen trailed 1-0 at halftime but held a 5-3 edge over the Boxers in total shots at the break.
The Geoducks tied the game at 1-1 when Kolby Juarez scored on an unassisted 30-yard shot at 51:37. His shot surged into the top middle of the goal. The teams remained tied until Blake's go-ahead goal at 83:47.
Juarez started the game-winning play with a crossing pass from the right side. Scanlan then provided a pass on a diving header about seven yards in front of the goal. Blake tapped in the ball near the left post with 6:13 left in the game. Juarez topped all scorers with a goal and an assist.
Evergreen took two shots in the final five minutes but was unable to add an insurance goal. A shot by Angel Sandoval (Jr., F) at 85:38 was saved by Pacific goalkeeper Kobi Miyamoto. Cooper Davis (Jr., D) provided the Geoducks with a shot at 88:19 that also was saved by Miyamoto. Pacific pushed into the Evergreen defensive third a few times after falling behind, but the Boxers were unable to create a shot.
For the game, Evergreen held a 12-8 advantage in total shots, including a 6-2 edge in shot on target. The Geoducks claimed an 8-4 lead in corner kicks. Pacific's best scoring chance of the second half was at 68:32 when a header by Cole Affolter hit the crossbar.
Tom Cole (Sr.), who started in goal for Evergreen, gave way to Rico Ewell (Jr.) in the second half. Ewell was injured on a play near the goal at 81:25, and Cole re-entered the game. Ewell recorded Evergreen's only save early in the second half on a shot by Nico Lomanto. Miyamoto registered four saves while playing all 90 minutes for the Boxers.
The Geoducks will return to action on Sunday, Oct. 13 with a home game against Simpson University, California. Game time at Geoduck Pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. PDT.