KIRKLAND, Wash. – Rallying from a two-goal deficit just 17 minutes into the match, the College of Idaho forced overtime and
Carter Perry stunned Northwest University with a game-winning goal in the fourth extra minute, as the Yotes kept their playoff hopes alive with a 3-2 victory at the NU Soccer Field.
The win for the Yotes (9-7, 6-6) clinched their first winning season since 2010 and put their playoff destiny in their hands. C of I can advance to the Cascade Conference Championships with a win or draw tomorrow vs. Evergreen or losses by Eastern Oregon (vs. Corban), Carroll (at Southern Oregon) and Providence (at Oregon Tech).
The Eagles (9-6-1, 7-4-1) charged out of the gate – as Lucas Ribeiro Alves blasted a 20-yard shot into the left corner of the net just five minutes in to stake the hosts to the early lead. After the Yotes
Cole Fuller had a 14th minute shot clang off the crossbar, NU got a solid combination from Trent Siedenburg to Chris Iacolucci for the 2-0 lead.
C of I answered just before the break, as
Ben Bechor slotted a ball in front of the 6-yard-box – with
Daniel Camargo driving the sitter into an open net.
Bechor drew the visitors even 10 minutes into the second half, making a great run and driving a 15-yard strike past NU keeper Daniel Christenson.
The Eagles could not take advantage of four combined corner kicks in the second half and overtime – with C of I keeper
Grant Billings making six total saves.
Perry notched the golden goal at the start of the 94th minute, as
Bekir Cinac played a perfect through-ball down the middle of the pitch, with the senior driving a 15-yard shot past Christenson for the winner.
NU held a 20-13 edge in total shots and a 6-3 edge in corner kicks – but saw the Yotes end a five match losing streak on the Eagles home pitch. It was C of I's first overtime win since a 3-2 victory at Warner Pacific in 2014.
C of I closes out the regular-season tomorrow at Evergreen.
