Pasco, WA – November 9, 2024 – The tension was palpable, and the stakes couldn't have been higher as the Clark College men's soccer team fought to a 1-1 draw with Columbia Basin College in a thrilling match that stretched into double overtime. After 110 minutes of gritty play and intense back-and-forth action, neither team was able to find a golden goal, sending the game to a dramatic penalty shootout, where Clark held their nerve to claim a 5-3 victory.
The match was a spectacle from the very first whistle, with both teams coming into the contest with impressive records: Clark (14-1-2, 13-1-1) had been on a tear this season, while Columbia Basin (11-0-4, 7-0-3) had been undefeated. The energy was electric, as each squad played with a sense of urgency, knowing the value of this clash.
The first half began with high tempo and physical play, with both teams competing fiercely in the midfield. Columbia Basin took the early lead in the 28th minute when Julian Reyes converted a penalty kick after a Clark foul in the box. The goal was Reyes' first of the season, giving Columbia Basin a 1-0 lead.
However, Clark was quick to respond, finding the equalizer just three minutes later. In the 31st minute, Milos Mavrak drilled a low shot past Columbia Basin goalkeeper Dylan Isasi, leveling the score at 1-1. The match was evenly poised, with both sides continuing to press for the go-ahead goal, but the defenses held strong for the remainder of the half.
The second half was an even more intense affair, as both teams traded chances, but the goalkeepers were up to the task. Clark's Jake Bilsborough made three critical saves, including a stop on a dangerous shot from Columbia Basin's Julio Andrade in the second half. Meanwhile, Isasi was also sharp, denying a number of shots from Clark's Randy Valdivia and Christian Silva. As the clock wound down, both teams had opportunities to win, but neither could break the deadlock.
Despite the man disadvantages, both teams continued to push forward, but neither could find the decisive blow in the two overtime periods, forcing the game to be decided by penalty kicks.
Penalty Shootout:
The shootout started with both teams converting their first attempts. Ethan Hundt, JP Warnell, Tymathe Prince, and Abraham Alvarez-Cast all calmly put their shots away for Clark. For Columbia Basin, Rafael Lucio, Julian Reyes scored on their attempts with Humberto Cervantes missing his attempt in the third slot.
Rudy Silva came through to complete the fourth, however Clark's Christian Silva sealed the deal with their fifth, shutting down the chances for CBC and sealing Clark's 5-3 victory in the shootout..
With the victory, Clark moves to 15-1-1 on the season, while Columbia Basin's unbeaten run comes to an end at 11-1-5.
Final Score:
Clark 1 – 1 Columbia Basin
Clark wins shootout 5-4
Next up the penguins will travel to Tukwila, WA for the Northwest Athletic Conference Semi-Finals, where they will take on Everett. Everett comes into the semi's as the #2 team out of the north region with a record of 15-3-1, 9-2-1.
Game time is set for 4:00pm on Friday, November 15th. For more information on the NWAC final four weekend click HERE.
---
For the latest news and results, follow Clark Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or sign up for our e-newsletter to stay up to date with the latest happenings!
