CALDWELL, Idaho – Under sunny skies in the Treasure Valley, the Evergreen Geoducks couldn’t quite get a point in their conference opener, falling to the College of Idaho Coyotes, 2-1, in a Cascade Conference men’s soccer match on Tuesday afternoon at Simplot Stadium in Caldwell, Idaho.
Evergreen keeper Christian Pettit
The Geoducks (1-3, 0-1 CCC) struck first as Josh Strasser (Bellevue, Wash./Bellevue HS) fed in a cross to the left side of the box as junior Brandon Wood (Couer d’Alene, Idaho/North Idaho College) was able to get a boot on the ball, blasting it into the upper corner for a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute.
The host ‘Yotes (2-3, 1-0 CCC) evened it up just a few minutes later as Brad Beyers sent in a free kick and Parker Waddell was able to get a handle on the deflection before placing it past Evergreen keeper Christian Pettit (Sprint Branch, Texas/UT-San Antonio).
The game would remain tied into the halftime intermission and throughout the second half as neither team was able to put the ball in next before regulation ended. College of Idaho had the most chances as they fired off 13 shots, compared with just five for the Geoducks, but the ‘Yote aim seemed to be off as only two of those managed to be on frame and Pettit made the necessary stops to send the game into overtime.
Both squads managed just one shot in the first overtime, neither of them on goal, as the heat wore down the collegians. College of Idaho finally found an extra ounce of energy for the second overtime period as Pettit managed to save the first three ‘Yote shots of the period but the fourth found a way past the sophomore keeper as Emilio Yomaha scored following another Byers’ cross to give CI the win in the 109th minute.
Despite giving up the two goals, Pettit had a strong afternoon, making seven saves as College of Idaho outshot Evergreen, 24-12, on the match. On the other end, Aaron Reynolds made five saves for the Coyotes as the Geoducks were able to put half of their shots on goal.
Evergreen returns to the friendly confines of Olympia on Saturday but will face one of their toughest challenges of the season when they play host to 14th-ranked Concordia (Ore.). First kick with the Cavaliers is set for 1pm on Evergreen Pitch on The Evergreen State College campus.
