SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – Balls played in the air caused problems for Argo soccer on both offense and defense, with UGF outshooting its opponent in the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship 22-13, but ultimately losing to Corban University 3-0. Both of the Warrior's two first half goals were scored on headers off of long throw-ins, handing the Argos the program's second straight loss in the CCC Championship.
Not only did both of Corban's first two goals come off of loose balls in the air, but much of the Argo offense relied on unsuccessful header attempts inside the Corban penalty box. The Argos finished the game with 8 corners to Corban's 4, but none of those, nor a slew of other long crosses from UGF, went towards the Warrior net with any kind of danger.
UGF controlled play for the first 15-20 minutes, getting good runs down the wings form both outside backs,
Anthony Mota and
Edgar Ortiz. Junior forward
Christoffer Bisbo, who scored in each of UGF's two playoff wins, almost did it again just three minutes in to the first half, getting the game's first shot on goal at the 2:54 mark. All-Conference midfielder,
Camilo Martinez get a second shot on frame for the Argos in the 10th minute, but things started to shift after that.
Corban started to control play and create more offense around the 20th minute, and after a few missed opportunities, made the most of a throw-in in the 28th minute. The Warrior's Jacob Young used his throwing skills to launch a ball from the left sideline into the UGF box and found teammate Igor Hubenya's head rising above a group of players.
That goal was the first example of a fatal flaw for UGF in the game, and Corban took advantage again 15 minutes later. Again it was a throw from Young that on first contact in the box hit off two players almost straight into the air. It fell about 7 yards out by the far post and Corban's Langdon Roscoe beat any Argo defender to the ball to make the score 2-0 heading into the half.
Holding a multi-goal lead, the Warriors played more defensively in the second half while looking for counterattack chances. UGF took advantage of the tactic by controlling play for a vast majority of the final 45 minutes, but the Argos struggled to breakdown the now tightly packed Warrior defense.
The best looks for UGF came off of shots from outside the 18-yard box. Sophomore
Adrian Gomez hit a few that looked somewhat threatening, but Corban's All-Conference goalkeeper, Jordan Farr was too skilled to let any of them in.
As time made UGF's prospects more desperate, the team pressed further and further forward, and eventually Corban converted on one of many counter attacks. A goal from CCC Player of the Year Timur Zhividze in the 87th minute put the game away.
The loss ends the Argo's season, as winning the CCC title was the team's last realistic shot at advancing to the 2016 NAIA Men's Soccer Championship. UGF ends the season with an 11-8 (8-5) record after making the CCC Championship for the second straight season.
