5-0 Shutout Sends EvCC to Quarter Finals

Portland, OR – After a wild finish in the north region standings, the Trojans (despite having only one loss on the season) slipped down to 3^rd, tied with Bellevue in points, but losing the head to head tiebreaker.  Five draws in north region play prevented EvCC from a shot at the North Region Title, but it was enough to get the job done, and make the playoffs for the 6^th consecutive season.

A third place north region finish means the Trojans had to travel in the opening round and would have to face South Region #2 finishers, the Portland CC Panthers.  Everett played Portland very early on in the season at the NWAC Friendlies back on August 22nd.  It was a lopsided affair in which the Trojans put up 7 goals and shut out the Panthers, holding the opponents to just one shot on goal. Freshman Reid Schaeffer scored a pair of goals in the match and another freshman Noah Harrison-Russell had a goal and two assists. 

The rain was coming down in Northeast Portland, but both teams looked eager and full of energy at the opening kick off.  The Trojans had an early goal scoring opportunity in the tenth minute when Emmanuel Chavez sent a ball into the box that was headed over the crossbar by Cristiano Whitaker.  A minute later Emmanual Chavez won the ball in the defensive third and sent it forward to Whitaker who was making a long run.  He beat the defenders but his shot was deflected by the keeper.  The ball found Emmanuel Nyaga who was following the play on the right side of the field but his follow up shot sailed over the cross bar as well.

Portland finally got their first shot in the 13^th minute but it was saved relatively easily by sophomore goalkeeper Avary Olson who ended up with 3 total saves on the day.  Everett eventually got on the board in the 23^rd minute after some brilliant passing that started with Tatsuya Cosey who found Noah Harrison Russell just inside the attacking third. Noah then sent a through pass to Cristiano Whitaker at the top of the box who finished with his left foot to the right post for his 20^th goal of the season (leads the NWAC). It was Noah Harrison-Russell's 15th assist on the season which also leads the NWAC and is an EvCC single season high.   

Five minutes later the men in red struck again, when Muhammed Darboe beat a defender down the right side of the field and took it all the way down to the end line before sending in a cross.  His ball found the right foot of Tatsuya Cosey to put EvCC up 2-0. 

Just before the halftime whistle the Trojans earned a corner that was taken by Muhammed Darboe.  The ball was deflected out but sent immediately back in by Giovanni Castillo.  A header from Noah Harrison Russell found Westin Galle at the near post and it would be the Trojans on top 3-0 at the break.

If it was possible, the rain came down even harder in the second half but the Trojans continued to defend well and control possession.  Portland's second half opportunities were limited to 4 shots, but nothing found the back of the net as keeper Avary Olson continued his solid play and kept a clean sheet for the 7th time this season.  In the 77^th minute, defender Caleb Podoll scored his first goal of his college career on a pass from Tanner Rahberger.  Off of one touch Podoll sent a right footed strike from the top of the box to the upper left corner of the goal and past a diving keeper.

Three minutes later the game was all but sealed with Westin Galle's 2^nd goal of the match.  Jonathan Sanchez won the ball from a defender inside the box, and sent the ball to Galle who controlled it neatly with his right foot, and moved it over to his left for a shot that hit inside the right post and skirting past the goal line. 

The 5-0 victory sends EvCC to the quarterfinals for the third consecutive season.  It will be a tough test on the road facing the number one ranked Columbia Basin College Hawks on their home field.  CBC is undefeated on the season with a 14-0-1 record, the only blemish being a 1-1 draw at Walla Walla.  Redemption is on the mind as the Trojans faced Columbia Basin last year in the semi-finals, a match in which the Hawks prevailed 3-1. Kick off is set for 1pm on Saturday November 4th and will be streamed live on the NWAC Sports Network.