CCC Women's Soccer: Corban 1 - Southern Oregon 0

With the win, Corban improves to 9-8-0 overall, 6-3-0 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play.

Genessa Neeser

SALEM, Ore. - On Senior Recognition Day, freshman Genessa Neeser scored her first collegiate goal and Corban's women's soccer team picked up a much-needed victory, 1-0, over the visiting Red Raiders of Southern Oregon on Saturday afternoon at Warrior Field.

Knowing that a win would help out tremendously in the Cascade Collegiate Conference standings heading into the final game of regular season, the Warriors battled with the Raiders and were scoreless after the opening 45 minutes.

Less than ten minutes into the final half, Corban was awarded a corner kick that freshman Erin Laughlin took and placed a perfect ball into the box.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, a Raider defender knocked the ball back over the end line therefore forcing another corner kick by Laughlin and the Warriors.

This time, Laughlin sent another beautifully lofted pass into the box that fellow freshman Sheree Kuehl got enough of a foot on to poke the ball over to Neeser, who rocketed a shot past everyone into the lower right corner of the goal for what would turn out to be the game-winner.

Despite holding a one-goal advantage, Corban needed to keep the hard-charging Raiders' offense out of the goal for the remaining 35-plus minutes and almost saw the visitors from Ashland tie the game three minutes later.

With just over 32 minutes remaining in the contest, Southern Oregon got a golden opportunity to put itself on the board when the Warrior defense misplayed a crossing ball that ended up on the foot of a wide-open Judi Dietz.

Without hesitation, Dietz rocketed a shot that looked like it was bound for the back of the net, but Corban's junior goalkeeper Karyn Allen got her left hand on the shot and sent it over the end line therefore stopping any chance that Southern Oregon had of tying the game.

Over the final ten minutes, Southern Oregon did push the offensive flow to its side of the field but Corban's defense was up to the challenge and held the Red Raiders at bay en route to picking up the one-goal victory.

Allen played all 90 minutes in goal for Corban and recorded a game-high four saves en route to picking up her team-leading fourth shutout of the season.

Meanwhile, SOU's Melanie Hopkins registered three saves between the pipes for the Raiders.

With the win, Corban improves to 9-8-0 overall, 6-3-0 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play. Meanwhile, Southern Oregon drops to 7-7-3 overall, 3-4-2 in CCC action.

The Warriors are next in action on Wednesday, October 17th, when they wrap up the regular season against the Knights of Warner Pacific in Cascade Collegiate Conference action beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Warrior Field.

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