Owls and Geoducks Play to 1-1 Tie

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Evergreen State scored the match-tying goal with less than three minutes remaining in regulation as Geoducks rallied to earn a 1-1 double overtime tie with the visiting Oregon Tech Owls in a Cascade Collegiate Conference men's soccer match played Friday at Geoduck Pitch. 

The Evergreen State (5-3-3 overall, 4-2-2 CCC) played a lot of defense through the first two-thirds of the match as the Owls (5-6-1, 4-4-1) built a 20-7 shot advantage through the first 90 minutes. 

After a scoreless first period, Oregon Tech took the lead just 16 seconds into the second half onJoey Driessen's penalty kick after an Evergreen turnover and foul in the penalty box. 

That advantage looked like it would stand up, but as regulation time wound down the Geoducks put on offensive pressure and found the tying goal. 

The play started when Kevin Elliott-McCrea scrapped for ball down the right wing, took it to the end line and cross back into the middle of the box to Trejo-Delgado. The freshman forward basically passed the ball into the left side of the net for his team-leading eighth goal of the season. 

Having gained more of the play as the game went on, the Geoducks took eight shots in the two overtime periods compared to five the visitors. Evergreen had the two best opportunities, and both came from Elliott-McCrea. 

The senior midfielder's shot just 90 seconds into the first overtime was tipped off the left post byGerardo Skewes, and about three minutes into the second overtime his header from a corner kick beat Skewes but bounced off the inside of the right post and back to the goalkeeper's hands. 

Total shots favored Oregon Tech, 25-15, though shots on goal were nearly even, the Owls holding a slight 8-7 edge in that category. The Geoducks took five of their seven corner kicks in the second overtime, and Oregon Tech ended up with six corners. 

Ben Stevenson recorded seven saves for the Geoducks and Skewes finished the contest with six saves. 

Both teams return to action on Saturday, the Geoducks hosting Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech playing Northwest University in Kirkland.