Women’s Soccer: Oregon Tech Ends Warriors Season

The season ends in shoot-out loss at home.

Salem-New.com

SALEM - For the second straight season, Corban's women's soccer team fell in the opening round of the Cascade Collegiate Conference tournament via a shoot-out loss. This time is was by Oregon Tech, 3-0, despite a game-tying goal by senior Charissa Bernard on Saturday.

After a scoreless first half that saw the host Warriors control the offensive flow, Oregon Tech's Brandy Bocchi put the first goal on the board in the 53rd minute off an assist from Sharlie McAdams. McAdams began the play by sending a through ball onto the awaiting foot of Bocchi, who flicked a shot up and over Corban's goalkeeper for her conference-leading 15th goal of the season.

Trailing by a goal and not wanting to have their season end, the Warriors pushed forward and began attacking the Hustlin' Owls' defense. In the 73rd minute, sophomore midfielder Leana Pomeroy fired a shot from just inside the penalty box that got up over the out-stretched arm of OIT's net-minder and hit the cross bar. Fortunately for Corban, Bernard was waiting for the rebound and after taking one dribble to her left, fired a shot into the back of the net for her 4th goal of the season.

With time winding down in regulation, Corban mounted one final run towards the goal and with three seconds remaining, senior midfielder Nicole Hickman fired a shot that found the awaiting hands of OIT's goalkeeper and sent the game into extra periods.

In the first overtime, the Warriors got off six shots compared to OIT's zero with neither hitting the back of the net. In the second sudden death, Golden Goal period, Corban managed a pair of shots (both on target) compared to OIT's zero, but could not crack the Hustlin' Owls' defense therefore sending the game into a shoot-out. In the two overtime periods, the Warriors got off eight shots, while holding the visiting Hustlin' Owls to none.

In the shoot-out, Oregon Tech's Kristi Tintiangco stepped up first and beat Corban's net-minder to the left side. Corban's shoot-out began with freshman defender Jessica Matthews firing a shot wide to the left. The Hustlin' Owls next put their trust in Kali Caleb, who came through with a shot to the lower left corner for the 2-0 advantage. Knowing that the Warriors needed a goal, junior midfielder Sarah Whaley stepped up, but was stopped by OIT's goalkeeper Jaclyn Unruh. Oregon Tech's Katie O'Brien punched the game-winning ticket on the Hustlin' Owls' third shot, which beat Corban's senior goalkeeper Kim Mendenhall once again to the left. Knowing that a stop on the Warriors' third shot would end the game, eleventh-year head coach Marty Ziesemer put his trust in Bernard. Unfortunately, OIT's Unruh stepped up to the challenge and stopped Bernard's attempt straight on to send the Hustlin' Owls into the semifinals against the tournament's No. 1-seeded Concordia on Wednesday, Oct. 25th, beginning at 3:00 p.m. in Portland.

Mendenhall ended the game with 2 saves, while OIT's Unruh made a game-high 9 of her own for the Hustlin' Owls.

Corban's season ends with a record of 7-11-1 overall, while Oregon Tech improves to 10-8-1 overall.

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