In a commanding performance at Portland, Clark College extended their unbeaten streak to five games with a decisive 3-1 win over Portland.
Clark's offensive onslaught began early in the first half. In just the 13th minute, forward JP Warnell opened the scoring, netting a goal off an assist from Randy Valdivia. The combination of speed and precision set the tone for the rest of the match. Just five minutes later, Abraham Alvarez-Castro doubled Clark's lead, finishing expertly after a setup by Christian Silva.
Portland struggled to mount a significant challenge, managing only one shot on goal in the first half. Clark's goalkeeper, Dennis Zimmer, was largely untested, recording a single save while his defense held firm against Portland's attempts to penetrate.
As the second half began, Portland found a glimmer of hope. In the 52nd minute, Alexis Llamas scored their first goal, narrowing the deficit to 2-1. The goal seemed to energize Portland, but their momentum was short-lived as Clark quickly regrouped.
The penguin's relentless pressure continued to pay off. In the 70th minute, JP Warnell struck again, completing his brace and extending Clark's lead to 3-1. This time, it was Christian Silva who provided the assist, showcasing his playmaking abilities and further solidifying his contribution to the team's success.
Portland attempted to rally but struggled to find their rhythm, managing only four shots in total for the match. Joseph Roeper, the Portland goalkeeper, was kept busy throughout the game, making an impressive 13 saves, but was ultimately unable to stem the tide against Clark's offensive firepower.
The match concluded with Clark firmly in control, outshooting Portland 21-4. The defensive cohesion and tactical discipline exhibited by Clark underlined their championship ambitions as they now sit comfortably at the top of the West Region standings with a perfect record of 5-0-0 as they head into West Region competition.
Next up, the penguins host Tacoma on Saturday, September 28th with kickoff set at 2:15pm.
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