Trojans Advance, Despite Playing Down

Everett, WA - For the first time in seventeen years the EvCC men's soccer team hosted an NWAC playoff game, and much like the match back in 2007 this year's home playoff contest was also not for the faint of heart.  The Tim Colvin led squad finished with an 8-8-1 cross region record (north and east) and secured a #2 seed among the north schools that season.  They hosted Southwestern Oregon CC and advanced to the quarterfinals after a thrilling match that required a 1-1 draw to be decided in penalty kicks.  The Trojans prevailed but lost to Peninsula (then in the west region) in the quarterfinals. 

This year, the Trojans entered the playoffs with a 13-3-1 overall record (tying for the most wins in program history) and entered the playoffs as the #2 seed from the north.  They hosted Spokane from the east region who came in with a 6-3-1 record and boasting one of the best offenses in the NWAC averaging 2.91 goals scored per contest.  They also featured the leagues 2nd best defense conceding just 0.48 goals per contest.  

The noon kick off was sunny and relatively warm for a November day and both teams generated early goal scoring opportunities.  Spokane nearly scored in the opening moments off of a corner kick and the Trojans answered with shots from Cristiano Whitaker and Lunden Fenster that narrowly missed.  But the Sasquatch got on the board in the 31st minute when a long free kick found a Spokane player in the box who headed it down and past freshman goalkeeper Paddy Murphy.  Murphy made two other big saves in the first half, but the tides of the match turned in the closing moments of the first half when defender Anthony Henry was sent off the field after a second yellow card, forcing EvCC to play down a man.

At the halftime whistle, Everett trailed 1-0 and faced an uphill battle having to play the final 45 minutes 10 on 11.  To say that the Trojans played with grit in the second half is an understatement.  They were the agressors to start the second half and nearly scored in the 65th minute after a series of earned corner kicks.  The tie was broken in the 69th minute when Dilon Spahia sent a free kick into the box from 25 yards out.  Lunden Fenster sought out the ball near the far post heading it back to the front of the goal finding Caleb Hirata who put it away with his right foot.

With the game tied at 1-1, the Trojans now had the momentum, despite still playing with the disadvantage.  Five minutes later, Hirata struck again.  Everett's Cristiano Whitaker played a ball to Lunden Fenster in space near midfield.  Fenster sent if forward to Hirata who was closely marked.  He got off a shot that was saved by the Spokane goalkeeper but the deflection went right back to Hirata and he scored his second goal of the game (8th of the season).  

Over the next 15 minutes, plus stoppage time, the Trojan defense withstood Spokane's attempts to tie the game.  Paddy Murphy ended the match with four saves, and the Trojans advanced to the NWAC quarterfinals for the fourth straight season.  Everett will travel to Medford, Oregon where they will take on the south region #1 seed, Rogue Community College.  That game is set for 7:30pm on Saturday, November 6th.