Trojans Push Past Dolphins

Everett, WA - The north region in men's soccer is perhaps the strongest from top to bottom in all the NWAC.  Shoreline, a program that has struggled in past years has found a resurgence and entered Sunday afternoon's contest with a winning record, and a recent 2-1 victory over perennial power Skagit Valley.  The match would be vastly different from last seasons contests against the Dolphins when the Trojans won 6-0, and 10-0.  

Through the first 45 minutes of action, neither team could score and it would be SCC who found a slight edge offensively getting off 3 shots on goal to EvCC's 1.  Freshman goalkeeper Paddy Murphy made two great saves to keep the match scoreless.  

Everett gained some momentum in the early goings of the second half, but still could not find the back of the net.  Murphy was again called upon in the 56th and 58th minute, making two more clutch saves.  It wasn't until the 81st minute off a Trojan throw in, that led to magic.  Cristiano Whitaker, who scored three goals in the previous match against Peninsula, won the ball away on the EvCC throw in from a Shoreline defender.  He got just enough of the ball to send it to Hakim Keita. Keita carried the ball 20 yards, knifing through three defenders and sent a ball that initially looked like it was intended to be cross.  With perfect shape, the ball sailed over the outstretched arm of the keeper and found the back corner of the net.  It was Keita's first goal of the season, and it put EvCC up 1-0 in a match that looked destined to end in a 0-0 draw.

The Trojans held on through the final nine minutes of action with a couple solid defensive stands, and improved their north record to 2-1.  Everett will get the week off to prepare for Bellevue College on Saturday.  The Bulldogs are 2-1 as well with big wins over Whatcom and Edmonds.  BC will play Shoreline on Wednesday, and could forshadow how the match will play out against the Trojans on Saturday.  Kick off on September 28th is scheduled for 2pm in Bellevue.