SALEM, Ore. – With just 11 seconds remaining in regulation, junior Jeff Roland (Tacoma, Wash./South Puget Sound CC) put in the game-winner as the Evergreen Geoducks earned a 1-0 win over the Corban Warriors in a Cascade Conference men’s soccer match on Saturday afternoon at Warrior Field in Salem, Ore.
The game-winner came at the 89:49 mark as Willie Spurr (Seattle, Wash./Roosevelt HS) sent in a corner kick in the closing seconds and Roland one-timed the attempted clearance from about 35 yards out, sneaking the ball into the upper-right corner for his third goal of the week and fourth of the season.
The Warriors dominated the game offensively, outshooting the Geoducks, 22-5, on the match but junior Mauricio Sanchez (Wenatchee, Wash./Wenatchee Valley CC) was a wall in goal, making six saves to collect the shutout.
With the win, the Geoducks clinch a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2005. Evergreen also tied the school record for most conference wins in a season with nine, which was coincidently last achieved in 2005.
The Geoducks return home on Wednesday when they take on Warner Pacific on Evergreen Pitch, beginning at 3 p.m.
Great job Geoducks! It just goes to show what happens when one shoots the ball at the net instead of trying to dribble it into the goal. With this win, combined with Northwest’s loss to Northwest Christian, we have virtually clinched second place and a home game in the playoffs! Siphon’s high Geoducks!
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