OLYMPIA, Wash. — Battling through gusting winds and driving rain, The College of Idaho men's soccer team secured a postseason berth with a 5-2 victory over Evergreen State Friday afternoon at Geoduck Pitch.
The win pushes the Yotes to 5-3-4 overall and 5-3-3 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play, clinching a spot in next week's CCC Championship Tournament. The regular season wraps up Saturday at 6:30 p.m. MT against Northwest University, with playoff seeding still up for grabs.
Pierre Fabre's goal in the 48th minute proved to be the turning point. What began as a routine cross from the right flank took an unpredictable spin in the wind, eluding teammate Keidin Green who tried to control it and also the geoduck goal keeper who watched the cross spin into the back of the net. The unassisted tally gave the Yotes a 3-1 lead and all the momentum.
Fabre finished with a goal and two assists, including a pinpoint corner that led to Keidin Green's second goal of the match in the 70th minute. Green also scored in the 46th minute, while Evan Dickinson and Nico Erlank added goals in the first and second halves, respectively.
The Yotes outshot Evergreen 17-14 and held a 6-4 edge in corner kicks. Goalkeepers Matej Hron and Ben Anderson combined for four saves in the victory.
Evergreen (1-11-2, 1-8-2 CCC) managed goals in the 32nd and 78th minutes but played the final 14 minutes down a man after a red card was issued.
With the postseason secured, The College of Idaho now turns its attention to Saturday's finale against Northwest Univ. (Wash), where a win could further improve its tournament seeding depending on results around the conference.
