SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – Second half goals from
Ellis Harwood and
John Sarna complemented a stellar defensive effort from the Oregon Tech backs, as the Owls advanced to their second-straight Cascade Conference Tournament championship game, defeating No. 25-ranked Corban, 2-0, at Les Schwab Soccer Park.
The win, along with top-seeded Warner Pacific advancing to Friday's title game in penalty kicks over Southern Oregon, clinches OIT (14-1-3) the CCC's second automatic bid to the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championships.
"That was a big time win," said first-year OIT head coach
Sean McManamon. "The boys were resilient today and i am happy for them. We are happy to secure the automatic bid to Nationals, but know we have work to do on Friday. Our scope is set to lift the trophy on Friday before anything else."
The Owls broke a stalemate early in the second half, as
Rosendo Juarez-Flores touched a 55th-minute pass out of a scrum to an unmarked Harwood just outside the box – with the junior lacing a low shot just inside the left post for the eventual game-winner.
While the OIT defense limited the Warriors (16-3-1) to two shots over the final 35 minutes, the offense added an insurance goal with 10 minutes remaining. Following a handball near midfield,
Logan Miller launched a free kick into the middle of the box, with Sarna using his 6-foot-5 frame to elevate over the pack, heading a ball over Warriors keeper Quinn McCallion for the counter.
Corban had their best chances in the first half, taking seven shots, including three on frame, during the final 20 minutes – but Tech keeper
Joel Witts made three of his five saves in the flurry. Witts, center backs
Reilly Combs and
Cooper Hunt, along with outside backs
Brock Rideout and
Ryan Pearson blanked the second-most prolific offense in the CCC.
The statistics tilted the way of the Warriors, with Corban holding a 13-9 edge in shots and a 6-2 edge in corners.
OIT and Warner Pacific will meet Friday in the CCC Championship game, presented by U.S. Bank, at Civic Park in Eugene, in a rematch of last season's double-overtime thriller won by the Owls. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.
