CALDWELL, Idaho – A pair of goals inside the final five minutes of the first half broke open a close game, as the Evergreen State College earned a 3-0 victory over the College of Idaho at Simplot Stadium.
The win for the Geoducks (8-6, 6-4 CCC) moved the squad within a win of clinching a berth in the Cascade Conference Championships and extended their unbeaten streak against C of I to 8-straight.
The Yotes (6-7, 4-6) had a golden opportunity in the ninth minute to take an early lead – as
Ben Bechor played a nifty left-to-right cross to
Bekir Cinac at the corner of the 6-yard-box. However, the one-time rocket from Cinac was stuffed by TESC keeper Hunter Bowman – one of his three saves on the afternoon.
Evergreen took advantage of a mistake by the Coyote defense to strike first. A failed clearance left Collin Tate alone 20-yards away from an empty net – driving a low shot into the net for the 1-0 lead. The visitors extended the margin late in the half – with Maxton Hauser heading home a long Carter Stephens free kick in the 41st minute and a minute later, Lucas Alcala slotted home a feed from Parker Vandriel.
C of I put pressure of the Greeners in the second half – as both Bechor and
Zach Flannery each hit crossbars, with the hosts holding a 7-1 edge in total shots – but could not break the TESC defense.
The Yotes return to action tomorrow, hosting Northwest at Noon.
