OLYMPIA, Wash. – With much of the match played in a heavy rain, the Evergreen Geoducks and Warner Pacific Knights battled until the 109th minute as the host Geoducks earned the overtime win in a Cascade Conference men’s soccer match on Tuesday evening at Evergreen Pitch in Olympia, Wash.
The rains began to fall about 10 minutes before match time and continued for the entire first half as the two teams played tight but neither squad could break onto the scoreboard. Evergreen (3-1-1, 1-0-0 CCC) held a slight lead on shots at 6-5, forcing Warner Pacific (1-2-0, 0-1-0 CCC) to make four first half saves.
The second half also began under rainy skies as the Geoducks put on the pressure. WPC took a blow in the 61st minute as Ricky Carmolinga was shown a straight red following a hard tackle near midfield. Knight keeper Dorian Lair was exceptional in the second half of regulation, making seven of his 12 saves to force extra time.
After a scoreless first overtime period, it looked like the two teams were going to be headed for a second scoreless overtime period but Jack Fortune (Monroe, Wash./Monroe HS) got in a ball to Willie Spurr (Seattle, Wash./Roosevelt HS), who powered it in for the game winner and his second goal of the season.
The Geoducks held a 23-13 advantage on shots but Lair was solid in net, making 12 saves and allowing just one goal. Evergreen keeper Collin Harlow (Kirkland, Wash./Juanita HS/Shoreline CC) also had a solid game, making five saves to collect his third shutout of the season.
Evergreen hits the road this weekend, traveling to Oregon Tech on Saturday. Match time with the Hustlin’ Owls is set for 1 p.m. in Klamath Falls, Ore. Warner Pacific will also be in action on Saturday, playing host to Corban.
Pingback: Tuesday scoreboard: Geoducks soccer, Saints volleyball knock off Warner Pacific | Oly Sports