OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The Evergreen State College and Linfield University played to a 0-0 tie in men's soccer at Geoducks Pitch on Tuesday, Sept. 1. It was a competitive game with Linfield holding a slim 16-15 edge in total shots. The Geoducks remained undefeated at 0-0-2 on the season, while Linfield opened its season at 0-0-1.
Linfield competes in NCAA Division III and the Northwest Conference. Evergreen is a member of the NAIA and the Cascade Collegiate Conference.
For Evergreen, starting goalkeeper
Tom Cole (Sr.) registered six saves -- several were quality stops -- in the first half. Goalie
Rico Ewell played the second half for the Geoducks and earned one save. Cole and Ewell combined for the shutout. Linfield goalie Colby Reese played all 90 minutes and also claimed a shutout, while earning five saves.
Linfield held an 11-9 advantage in total shots during the first half, but both teams had chances to score. Evergreen's
Jesus Marin (So., M) had perhaps the best opportunity to score in the opening 45 minutes, as he slotted a shot past Reese that went just wide right of the goal at 36:12. Later,
Damien Rodriguez (So, F) of Evergreen hit the right post with a shot at 44:23. The saves by Cole kept Linfield off the scoreboard in the first half.
Evergreen held a slim 6-5 margin in shots during the second half. and forced Reese to make three saves. Meanwhile, the Evergreen defense fended off most of the offensive attacks by the Wildcats. Ewell's only save for the Geoducks was made at 78:20 on a shot by Brody Dalgaard.
The last three shots of the game were by Evergreen.
Luca Viana (Jr., M) shot wide left at 82:22 and
Noah Blake (Jr. F) shot wide right at 86:44. The game's final shot was taken by Viana, who missed to the right of the goal as time expired.
For the game, Blake led all players with six total shots, including three shots on target. Caleb Ishizaka topped the Wildcats with four total shots. Linfield claimed a 7-5 margin in shots on target and the Wildcats gained a 6-5 edge in corner kicks.
Evergreen will be back in action at Geoduck Pitch on Sunday, Sept. 6 in a non-conference game against Pacific University. Game time is set for 5 p.m. PDT.
