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Intercollegiate AthleticsFor Sports EnthusiastsFor Student Athletes |
CONCORDIA BEATS EVERGREEN IN FIRST ROUND OF CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS |
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October 31, 2002
by James J. Portune Evergreen State College Sports Information Director Senior Brian Iblings comes off the bench to score all three goals for Cavaliers. PORTLAND, Ore - Time is running out for senior forward Brian Iblings (Sumner, Wa/Auburn Riverside H.S.) and he knows it. A loss can mean the end of his college soccer career, being that it is playoff time and the losers go home until next year. But not to worry, today. In the 28th minute he got the call from the coaches, entered the game for the first time, scored his first of three goals seven minutes later, and lead Concordia University (14-5, 10-2) to a 3-1 victory over Evergreen State College (7-11, 5-8) in the first round Cascade Conference Men's Soccer Tournament. "Brian has been going through a rough spot recently," said Concordia Head Coach Dan Birkey. "He has be hitting the post and having the goalkeepers make some spectacular saves in the last week or so. When I put him in the game I told him to do more with the ball than just shoot; relax and be selective with your shots. First blood, in this well played game in-front of sixty-five Concordia
friendly fans, was drawn by Evergreen States. With speed to burn, junior
forward Jason Gjertsen (Tacoma, Wa/Wilson H.S.) got pass
the Cavalier defense on a mid-field pass from senior Kinnan Murray
(Tacoma, Wa/Catlin Gabel H.S.) in the 28th minute and caught Concordia
goalkeeper Mason Bowman (Lakewood, Wa/Lakes H.S.) out of the box
and put the Geoducks up Concordia could very easily have been down 2-0, if Gjertsen's goal in the 15th minute of the game, scored in almost identical fashion to the previous, had not been called off due to an Evergreen handball at mid-field. Iblings first goal, followed by his second score with five minutes remaining in the first half, assisted by senior Andy Duvall (Pasco, Wa/Pasco H.S.) and mid-fielder Tysen Bodewig (Marysville, Wa/Marysville-Pilchuck H.S.), shifted the momentum back to the Cavaliers. "It is tough playing a game like this one," Coach Birkey pointed out, "when two teams know each other so well. Both teams made adjustments for this game in order to show a different look." An uneventful evenly played 2nd half was puncturated in the 76th minute by a foul on Evergreen in their box. Sophomore goalkeeper Tommy Kneeshaw (Eatonville, Wa/Eatonville H.S.) picked the correct side to dive in defense but Iblings shot to the right side was kicked with authority and overpowered Kneeshaw, put the Cavalier's up 3-1. Iblings was quick to praised Kneeshaw's performance in goal. "Tommy made some unbelievable saves. He kept them in the game. It is a challenge to play against a goalie of his caliber, it makes you play harder." 
As the Cascade Conference Champions, Concordia is guaranteed a spot in the NAIA Regional Tournament. "These games are very tough, they are a test of character," explained Coach Birkey. "We do not need to win in order to play in regionals. But, a win does enable us to host a game. I would much rather play here than at Western Baptist." The loss brings Evergreen States season to a close. A rebuilding season by all accounts, as the Geoducks returned to post-season play following a seven-year drought. "We will be back," said Co-Head Coaches Tom Boatright and Andy Hill with enthusiasm. "In mid-season, when we were going through a rough spot, we had a coaches/player meeting and this was our goal. We wanted playoff experience this year, not next year." Although glad to have the win under his belt, Coach Birkey does not like what he sees in Olympia, Wa. "Tom and Andy have done a unbelievable job putting life back into the Evergreen men's program," Birkey emphasized. "Every time I see Evergreen next on the schedule all I can think about is having to play 'The Big Green Monster'." As Evergreen players and coached dispersed following the final team meeting, with wet faces, talk of next year had already begun. "We will be a much deeper team next season," said Boatright and Hill. "They (Concordia) are the type of team we will be next year." Saturday (Nov 1) at 1:00 p.m. Concordia will host Western Baptist in the championship game of the Cascade Conference Men's Tournament. Today in Caldwell, Idaho, in windy below 20's weather, #3 Western Baptist shutout Albertson College of Idaho 5-0. |
Men's Soccer InformationAffiliates
Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC)
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Related Links |
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Last Updated: September 10, 2008 All content and images on this site are copyrighted by The Evergreen State
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