Lead Collapses Late in Loss to Corban

Corban improves to 2-8-1 on the season and pick up their first win since their season-opener.

Salem-News.com Sports

EUGENE, Ore. - The Northwest Christian University men’s soccer team came back from an early deficit only to see their own lead fade away late in a 3-2 loss to Corban College in Cascade Collegiate Conference action at Mike Kelly Field on Tuesday night.

Corban got the scoring underway in the 27th minute when Travis Wells found the 6-foot 3-inch frame of Ayouba Moussa on a cross, with Moussa hitting a header into the upper corner of the net.

The score would remain the same going into halftime and the NCU defense continued to buckle down, not allowing a second-half shot for the first 25 minutes. In that time the Beacons would take advantage offensively. First, in the 52nd minute, T.J. Prentice sent a free ball cross to Kyle Ottwell, who hit home a header for the game-tying goal.

In the 65th minute the Beacons would score again. Nick Kratzke had the ball on a breakaway and dropped a touch pass back to the trailing Prentice, who fired in a 25-yard strike for the go-ahead score.

The Beacons looked to be in control until late in the game when, in the 80th minute, a corner-kick led to a fracas in front of the goal. The ball would pop out to the left to Moussa who was able to punch in the score and once again tie the game, this time at 2-2.

Finally, in the 85th minute, Wells would collect his second assist of the season, sending a crossing pass directly to the center of the box where Chris Smerke punched in a five-yard strike to win the game.

Corban Goalkeeper Aaron Reynolds picked up the win, collecting seven saves. Cuyler Ziegler was in goal for NCU for all 90 minutes as well, recording two saves, both in the second half.

Corban improves to 2-8-1 on the season and pick up their first win since their season-opener. They also move past Northwest Christian into seventh-place in the CCC with a 1-7 record.

The Beacons (1-10-1, 0-7-1 CCC) will be back in action on Friday when they play host to The Evergreen State University at 4:00 p.m.

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