SPRINGFIELD, Ore. - The Northwest Christian University men's soccer team battled through their fourth straight overtime game on Saturday night and came away with a 1-1 draw against defending CCC champion Corban University.  

NCU survived a 34-10 shot discrepancy in the game in large part due to the efforts of junior goalkeeper Bren Bletscher (pictured) who finished the night with 12 saves.
 
It was the Beacons that provided the early fireworks. Angel Sandoval got the ball on the right side of the field and brought it into box. As he attempted to cross the ball back to his forwards in the middle, a Corban defender put a hand on the ball, giving NCU the penalty kick. It was Sandoval who would connect on the score, getting the ball just past a diving Steven Mason to give the Beacons the early 1-0 lead.
 
Corban was able to tie things up before the first half was over in what was a moment of weakness for the Beacon defense. Quamie Dinnall took the ball near midfield along the right sideline, drove past five different NCU players on his way to the left side of the goal where he was left one-on-one with Bletscher. The keeper was caught in his tracks as Dinnall scored back to the right for the equalizer.
 
Head Coach Brett Bentley said, "We are walking away a little disappointed tonight because we started the game with high energy and high tempo, creating a penalty kick, but then we conceded that goal with a lack of individual responsibility. Nobody stepped up to make the play and he was able to score pretty easily."
 
The Warriors had a number of opportunities to get a go-ahead score in the second half as two near goals were called back. On the first, a free kick from 40-yards out went up and over Bletscher and into the net, but a foul was whistled as a defender got an early jump on the keeper. A second goal found the back of the net, but the Warriors were called for an offside penalty.
 
The Beacons (1-2-2, 0-1-1 CCC) totaled five shots-on-goal in the contest, with two from Sandoval. The draw ends a three-game losing streak to the Warriors.
 
Corban (2-3-1, 0-1-1) was led offensively by Dinnall, who came off the bench to total nine shot attempts, including one that clanged off the crossbar in the second half. Arsinio Walker and Kemar Prince led the Warriors with three shots-on-goal apiece. Mason made four saves in the game as well.
 
NCU has now played four overtime games in a row, including a pair of 2-1 losses and now two ties that went the full 110 minutes. "It shows that we are a tough team and we are going to step up and compete with anybody," said Bentley. "Nobody is going to walk over us this year and I think we just need to get a little better at imposing our will on our opponent instead of the opposite."
 
NCU will be back in action on Monday night, traveling to Corvallis for a clash with Oregon State at 5:00 pm. Corban will next play on Tuesday in Washington against Evergreen at 5:00 pm.