OLYMPIA, Wash. – With flawless sunny skies overhead, the 20th-ranked Great Falls Argonauts were nearly flawless on defense and used three opportunities to put the ball in the net as they picked up a 3-0 win over the Evergreen Geoducks on Saturday afternoon at Evergreen Pitch in Olympia, Wash.
Great Falls (1-0-0) broke the scoreless tie just under 20 minutes in as Alex Martinez fed in a corner kick to the far post and David Jiminez got his foot on the ball to slip it past Geoduck (0-2-0) keeper Christian Pettit (Sprint Branch, Texas/UTSA) for the 1-0 lead.
The Argos, ranked 20th in the NAIA Preseason Coaches’ Poll, made it 2-0 in the 37th minute as Ryan O’Neil stole the ball from a Geoduck defender and unleashed a solid shot from the top of the box into the back of the net. Just three minutes later, UGF scored again as Danny Delgadillo took the rebound off a Pettit save following a shot by O’Neil as the Argos took the 3-0 lead into the break.
The second half was a lot more even as Great Falls managed just five shots in the second half after taking 11 shots in the opening 45. The Geoducks on the other hand increased the pressure on net, taking five shots as well after posting three in the first half.
UGF keeper Zach Johnson made two saves on the afternoon to collect the shutout while Pettit finished with four saves and freshman Mitch Treend (Vancouver, Wash./Prairie HS) made two saves after taking over goalkeeping duties in the second half.
The Geoducks will look for their first win of the season on Tuesday when they play host to Walla Walla University. Kickoff with the Wolves is set for 4pm on Evergreen Pitch in Olympia, Wash.
