Corban Women's Soccer Pick to Finish Third in CCC

Follow all Corban University athletic action right here on Salem-News.com Sports.

The Cascade Collegiate Conference office recently announced that the Corban University women's soccer team was picked to finish third in the 2014 CCC Coaches' poll. Photo Courtesy: Corban Athletics

(SALEM, Ore. ) - The Cascade Collegiate Conference office recently announced that the Corban University women's soccer team was picked to finish third in the 2014 CCC Coaches' poll.

After registering an 11-6-3 overall record in 2013 and a 6-2-1 mark in CCC action, the Warriors received 81 points in the preseason poll, third only to Northwest University (85 points) and Concordia University (100 points).

"We have a great conference with many great teams that we will be competing against during the season," commented head women's soccer coach Marty Ziesemer. "While it is great that we were picked third, we have a whole season to see what really happens and we have some serious shoes to fill from last year. Our play on the field will determine where we sit at the end of the season."

The Warriors return a strong core of players despite losing some key seniors from last year's squad. Senior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Mendenhall (Windsor, Calif.) returns after recording 40 saves last year and a 1.23 goals-against-average.

Also keying the strong defense is junior defender Randi Donahue (Bellingham, Wash.) and sophomore defender Olivia Erskine (Chehalis, Wash.). Donahue scored three goals and racked up five assists last year, while Erskine notched one assist in 18 starts from the back.

Finally, junior midfielder Ashley Beykovsky (Gladstone, Wash.) figures to be a key part of the Corban team after tallying one goal and 23 shots during the 2013 campaign.

The top-six teams in the CCC final regular-season standings earn spots to the CCC Postseason Tournament, slated to begin with quarterfinals on November 5, semifinals on November 8, and then the championship match on November 15.

Contests will be held on campus sites.

The winner of the conference postseason tournament earns the CCC's automatic bid to the NAIA National Championships, set for a November 22 start date.

Source: Corban Athletics