Evergreen Outclassed at Home
On Wednesday evening the Evergreen Men’s soccer team looked to make it three wins in a row from three at home. Their opponent for this match was the Corban Warriors, who had defeated the Geoducks by a score of 2-nil when the Evergreen traveled to Salem, Oregon.
When the match got under way, both teams struggled finding any rhythm to make a solid move towards goal. This all changed in the fifth minute when Corban took advantage of an Evergreen defense lapse by #5 Ramon Ramos who headed over #1 Mitch Treend in goal, giving Corban the lead.
After surrendering the lead so early, Evergreen turned up the pressure. The Geoducks' passing was crisper and their movement was cleaner, which in turn created chances to snatch up the equalizer.
Their pressure paid off in the 25th minute when #6 George Bundy passed to #17 Corey Johnson. Johnson took a few touches, turrned to his left, and with his left foot smacked it past the diving Warriors' goalkeeper.
Evergreen’s pressure did not stop there. They seized the moment and looked to score a second. Evergreen waited only 4 minutes before they doubled the lead.
In the 29th minute, #6 Bundy took advantage of the slacking Warriors' defense, which allowed him to stroll past the defenders. From just outside the 18 yard box he fired a low shot that gave the Geoducks the lead.
With their confidence sky rocketing, Evergreen looked to ensure their dominance.
Their advantage was short lived when the Warriors were awarded a penalty kick that confused and enraged the Evergreen players and fans as to why it was given. With emotions aside, Corban’s #14 Tyler Hagen slotted home the equalizer.
Evergreen’s night progressively got even worse in the 39th minute when #15 Derik Chaney crossed the ball from the right and into the path of the on rushing #7 Aaron Kinnes who headed past Treend in goal.
The first half ended with five lead changes and saw the scoreboard showing Evergreen losing at 2-3.
Corban’s third goal seem to hurt Evergreen’s confidence significantly, after they fought back so easily to come back and then take lead, following Corban’s come back. The interval could not have come at a better time.
However, the break did not seem to reenergize the Geoducks when the second half resumed. Corban seemed to be firing on all cylinders, while Evergreen were struggling to find one.
Evergreen’s chances of coming back looked rare, when in 58th minute #18 Brandon Wood pulled down an attacking Warrior inside the box. The ref had no choice, but to award the penalty kick. Up stepped #8 Devin Chaney who wasted no time increasing the Warriors' lead.
14 minutes later, Kinnes got his second goal of the match when he fired in a bending free kick 20 yards out. With the score at 5-2, it was all but over for the Geoducks who had no responses for the rampant Warriors from Salem.
Nevertheless, the Geoducks did manage to get one goal back, when #13 Dyson Fowler powered his way past the Warriors' defense and was able to cross to the back post to be met by the diving Woods.
It was a shocking loss for the Geoducks to take, mainly because in the past two matches they had played very well and now were completely out performed.
Some positives from the match were that #17 Johnson increased his goal tally of the season to four and both #6 Bundy and #18 Woods picked up their third goals of the season.
The Geoducks next face Warner Pacific away from home on Saturday the 22nd of October.
(All photos by Jack Lukins)