Corban Falls to Whitman College, 2-1

the Warriors suffered their first defeat of the 2014 campaign, 1-2. Photo Courtesy: Corban Athletics

(WALLA WALLA, Wash.) — The Corban University men's soccer team traveled to play Whitman College on Thursday evening, and despite outshooting the Missionaries, 17-6, the Warriors suffered their first defeat of the 2014 campaign, 1-2.

Whitman jumped out in front in the 14th minute after applying the pressure early on. 

On the play, Corban senior goalkeeper Steven Mason (Santa Rosa, Calif.) made a diving save off of a Whitman free kick, but the Missionaries were there to follow up the shot first and slot it home, nabbing the early advantage. 

Corban applied a good deal of pressure throughout the remainder of the half, but only registered five total shots in the first 45 minutes. 

The fifth shot of the half was the most important for the Warriors, however, as with the clock winding down, senior midfielder Kyle Hammond (Missoula, Mont.) ripped a shot into the back of the net, tying the contest as the teams went into the halftime intermission.  Sophomore forward Bobby Hutchin (Vancouver, Wash.) did a great job of gaining position on the play and was credited with the assist. 

In the second stanza, the Warriors rode the wave of momentum, piling on shot after shot, but it was Whitman (2-2) who ended up going in front again via a header off of a cross from free kick in the 68th minute.

Knowing it needed to press the issue to try to find the equalizer, Corban began firing more shots at the Missionary goal, but the Warriors could not find the finishing touch again despite racking up 12 shots during the final 45 minutes.  Sophomore midfielder Quamie Dinnall (May Pen, Jamaica) and senior forward Arsinio Walker (Kingston, Jamaica) led the way offensively for Corban with three shots apiece, while a handful of players tallied two.

In goal for Corban, Mason registered one save while facing three shots on frame for the evening.

In addition to their significant shots advantage, the Warriors also led Whitman in corner kicks, 5-0.

"Whitman did a good job early of applying pressure," stated head men's soccer coach Aaron Lewis.  "I felt our guys did well to respond, but we will need to do better on set-piece defending and finding the final touch near goal.  It was a good match for us to take things from moving forward."

Corban (2-1-0) continues its road trip on Saturday afternoon in Spokane, Wash., when it takes on the Whitworth University Pirates. 

Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

Source: Corban Athletics