Third Consecutive Draw, Trojans Remain Undefeated

Everett, WA - The #2 ranked Trojans entered Saturday's contest against Skagit Valley College unbeaten but wanting to pick up three points in the standings after a pair of 1-1 draws against Bellevue and Whatcom on the road.  The return home started out promising as Muhammed Darboe got the Trojans on the board early with a goal in the 12th minute, but Skagit Valley brought the game back to even just before the half.  The Cardinals capitalized on only two shots on goal compared to the Trojans' three, as both defenses looked to be solid in the first half.  

The narrative would change in the second half with four total goals being scored, fortunately/unfortunately for the Trojans it would mean a third straight match resulting in a draw.  Muhammed Darboe got the Trojans back on top with an assist from Reid Schaeffer 20 minutes into the second half.  Then in the 75^th, Muhammed Darboe looked destined to score his third goal of the game on a breakaway and put the Trojans up by two goals. Just before the strike he was taken down from behind by a Skagit defender.  At full speed it appeared as though Darboe was clipped inside the box, but after review with the line judge the refereed decided against a penalty kick and placed the ball just outside the box. Giovanni Castillo still nearly converted on a sweet left footed, curving strike but it sailed just over the cross bar. 

With all the momentum it looked like EvCC was nearing the win and three points, but Skagit Valley got a goal off of a deflection to draw things even at 2-2.  Disaster struck for the Trojans three minutes later, and in the 89^th minute the Cardinals drew a penalty inside the box and converted on the PK.

In the span of about ten real time minutes the Trojans went from a certain win and three points, to a deflating one-point draw, to a devastating home loss, coming away with nothing.  In a last gas effort in stoppage time, the Trojans drew a foul near midfield and set up a long free kick from goalkeeper Avary Olson who sent it down near the box.  With the ball in the air Emmanuel Nyaga drew another foul five yards outside of the 18 after he was pushed in the back trying to play the ball in the air.

With the match on the line Muhammed Darboe stepped up to take the free kick, and sent a powerful shot over the wall and in the top right corner of the net past the diving keeper to equalize the game and save two points in the standings. 

While a win would have been preferred, the draw would turn out to be incredibly important. After Saturday's results, four teams now sit with nine points on top of the north region standings.  Undefeated at 2-0-3 are the Trojans, Skagit Valley, and Bellevue.  At 3-2-0 is Peninsula who took a disappointing 2-1 home loss to Bellevue.

The Trojans will be idle on Wednesday when the rest of the north is playing, but will play Shoreline on Friday September 29^th.  That game will be played at 1:00pm at Twin Ponds Park.