Northwest University (NU) goalkeeper Daniel Christenson came up with nine saves as he and the Eagle defense held off Corban 3-1 this afternoon to take over the top spot in the Cascade Conference. NU’s freshman midfielder Branson Corwin scored two goals and added an assist to help lift the Eagle to the win on Wednesday.
Corban’s only score came off an own goal by NU in the 83rd minute, but it was Christenson grabbing everything else that came his way. The Eagle defense helped stop 19 Corban shots while getting just four of their own, but NU made good their opportunities scoring once in the first half and twice in the second for the win.
Freshman Branson Corwin gave NU a 1-0 lead in the 44th minute as he took a cross from teammate and another freshman, Chris Iacolucci, and finished from 12-yards out and into the upper left corner of the goal.
The defenses then took over for the next 30 minutes until Todd Siedenburg one touched a cross from 16-yards out to increase the Eagle lead to 2-0 at the 73:09 mark. The cross came from Branson Corwin as he placed the ball into the middle of the field for Siedenburg.
Corban got on the scoreboard as a Northwest attempt to clear the ball was deflected towards the Eagle goal and was deflected by NU keeper Christenson to the left goalpost where the ball hit the post and trickled into the goal.
Corwin scored the capper for Northwest at 86:32 on transition as he knocked in a 20 yard shot from the left side over the Corban goalkeeper for the final score of the game.
NU (11-2, 6-1 CCC) jumps into the league lead with 21 points, two more than Corban and three over Concordia who the Eagles host on Saturday afternoon. Corban 8-4-1, 6-2-1 CCC) outshot NU 19-4 and added 12 corner kicks to none for the Eagles. Steven Mason had one save in goal for Corban.
The two teams will meet again in Salem on October 29. Northwest U hosts Concordia in another key CCC match-up this Saturday while Corban will travel to play Oregon Tech in Klamath Falls.
