LACEY, Wash. -- The Evergreen State College gave undefeated Eastern Oregon University a solid battle in Cascade Collegiate Conference men's soccer action at the Regional Athletic Complex on Saturday, Nov. 1 before falling to the Mountaineers 3-1. EOU entered the game ranked #23 in the NAIA Men's Soccer Poll.
With the win, Eastern Oregon extended its record to 13-0-4. The Mountaineers moved to 10-0-2 in the CCC, while winning the regular season title. Evergreen completed its season at 1-12-2 overall, 1-9-2 in the CCC.
Prior to the game, the Geoducks honored Evergreen's six seniors on the team. Seniors are
Alejandro Gallegos (D),
Alex Lopez (M),
Sage Scheuerell (F),
Alan Miranda (D),
Marvin Sea (F), and
Jonas Olvera Calderon (D).
The Geoducks played an exceptionally close game in the first half. Evergreen appeared to take a 1-0 lead on a header following a corner kick at 34:37, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul on the play. Less than three minutes later, the Mountaineers gained a 1-0 lead on a goal by Anthony Macedo with an assist from Daniel Kropf. Macedo scored from five yards just to the right of the goal after receiving a through-pass from Kropf.
Eastern Oregon remained in front at halftime but held a slim 6-5 advantage in total shots. Evergreen tied the score at 1-1 on a penalty kick by
Kainoa Wong (Sr., F). A foul by EOU inside its defensive 18-yard box led to the penalty kick attempt. Wong sent the ball into the lower right corner of the goal at 61:19.
Less than a minute later at 62:04, the Mountaineers received a penalty kick opportunity.
Tom Cole (Sr.), Evergreen's goalkeeper, dived to his left and saved the penalty shot by Henry Lopez.
The action soon continued when Marcos Bravo scored a goal for EOU at 63:28 to give the Mountaineers a 2-1 advantage. It was Bravo's team-leading 10th goal of the season. Bravo hit the net with a shot from 10 yards after receiving a pass from the left side by Macedo. Eastern Oregon increased its lead to 3-1 on a penalty kick goal by Kropf at 73:40. He sent the ball into the lower left corner.
Cole registered a season-high eight saves for the third time. EOU goalie Anthony Lemus earned two saves, and one save was recorded by an Eastern Oregon defender.
For the game, the Mountaineers claimed a 19-6 lead in total shots and an 11-4 lead in shots on target. Each team took two corner kicks. Bravo led all players with five total shots. Three Geoducks ... Gallegos, Wong, and Sea ... each took two shots for Evergreen.
