OLYMPIA, Wash. – Willie Spurr converted a penalty kick in the 77th minute to provide the winning margin, as the Evergreen State College escaped with a 2-1 victory over the College of Idaho at Geoduck Pitch.
The Geoducks (11-2, 8-2 CCC) kept their Cascade Conference title hopes alive with the win in a physical contest that saw 31 fouls and seven cautions.
After a scoreless first 45 minutes played between the 18-yard-boxes, Evergreen asserted themselves after the break, holding a commanding 11-2 edge in shots – including five on frame. The hosts broke through in the 61st minute, as Martin Ramirez collected the ball after his first attempt was blocked by a Coyote (7-5, 6-5) defender and buried a 25-yard dart into the corner of the net.
The lead was short-lived, as C of I got the equalizer in the 63rd minute, as Jorge Brambila played a perfect cross from the left side, finding the head of Mehmed Selimovic for his seventh goal of 2015.
A foul in the Evergreen box in the 77th minute gave the Geoducks the chance they needed, as Spurr beat Grant Billings in the 1-on-1 chance from the spot for the game-winner. C of I had chances late, but couldn't convert on a corner kick; had a rush turned back due to an offside call; and a Joao Cardoso strike from 20 yards missed high.
Angel Guerra got the win in goal for ESC despite facing just one shot on frame, while Billings made three second half saves in the loss.
C of I continues their road trip tomorrow with a 2 p.m. (PDT) match-up at Northwest University.
