Box Score WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Their chances may have been limited but the Whitman College men's soccer team made the most of a lopsided shot differential in a 2-1 non-conference victory Thursday night over visiting Corban University in a non-conference match-up at the Whitman Athletic Complex.
The Missionaries (2-2) were out shot by a margin of 12-2 in the second half and 17-6 for the game, but
Logan Grime cashed in on one of the two chances during the final 45 minutes of action to propel Whitman to the win and send the Warriors (2-1) to their first defeat of the season.
Grime got off the initial shot of the second half, one that sailed over the crossbar, before Corban pressed its attack and reeled off the next five shots over a 12 minute span. Whitman goalkeeper
Niko Contos needed to come up with saves on three of the Warriors' shots in that span to keep the score tied at 1-1.
As the clocked ticked into the game's 68th minute, Grime darted in from the left of the Warriors' goal to head a cross from
Bridger Sellegren back across the goal to the right and past Corban goalie Steven Mason who had not been tested since before the intermission.
It would be the final shot of the game by the Missionaries but one more save from Contos and a defensive back line that forced off-the-mark shots over the final 23 minutes gave the home team the win on a clear, fall night under the lights.
Early on the contest looked like it might be one sided as Whitman accumulated the first three shots of the night and all three were solid scoring chances.
Jose Beleche hit the right post in the 11th before the next two shots provided the evening with its first goal.
Riley Paul's low shot from the left toward the right post forced Mason to dive for the save, but he was unable to control the rebound.
Kyle Flannery was, however, and rocketed a shot back across into the left side of the net to push Whitman ahead with an early lead.
The home-team advantage on the scoreboard would last until the final beat of the opening half when Corban's Kyle Hammond was able to pound a rebound from a blocked shot into the back of the net literally as the horn sounded.
Despite Grime's early shot in the second half the momentum was shifted toward Corban until Grime put home the game-winner.
Contos finished the night with five saves in earning the win while Mason suffered the loss for Corban, making one save and allowing both Missionary goals.
The Missionaries will take a 10-day break from competition before their next outing, a cross-town non-conference match-up against visiting Walla Walla University on Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.
