By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Crosstown rival Corban College defeated Willamette University, 3-1, in a non-conference game at Warrior Field on Tuesday, Oct. 2. Willamette scored first, but Corban tallied two goals before halftime, then added an insurance goal with 4:14 left, as the Bearcats pressed forward to create a tying goal. The game featured 42 shots, including 19 shots on goal. Corban upped its record to 4-5-2, while Willamette fell to 2-7-1.

With the win, Corban was able to retain the Capitol Cup, which goes to the winner in the annual meeting between the Bearcats and the Warriors. Corban won the inaugural Capitol Cup in 2006, when the Warriors claimed a 4-2 win at Sparks Field on the WU campus.

The Bearcats scored 3:09 into this year's meeting, as Conor Costigan (Fr., MF, Hillsboro, OR/Glencoe HS) registered his first collegiate goal on assists from Greg Beasley (Fr., F, Camas, WA/Camas HS) and Michael Rodrigues (Sr., MF, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS). Rodrigues began the play with a quick pass to Beasley, who sent a through ball across the face of the goal. Costigan ran onto the ball and sent it into the Corban net.

Corban tied the game, 1-1, on a goal by Brendan McCornack at 23:46. McCornack reversed his way across the penalty area,t hen shot to the lower right corner of the goal. Travis Wells added another unassisted goal at 35:50, when he put it the rebound of a deflected shot. Andrew Brown took the initial shot, which was on its way toward the goal, when a Willamette defender cleared it off the line.

The Warriors maintained their 2-1 lead at halftime and remained in front by the same score for most of the second half. Willamette was forced to attack with increasing numbers in search of a tying goal, which created extra openings for Corban once the Warriors gained possession.

Joshua Crain completed the scoring for Corban with a shot to the lower left corner of the net at 85:46. Quick passing from Andrew Brown and Fernando Karczeski led to the goal. Crain took Karczeski's pass and shot from about seven yards out.

Corban finished the game with 24 shots, while the Bearcats accumulated 18 shots. The Warriors held an 11-8 edge in shots on goal, but Willamette achieved a 7-5 margin in corner kicks.

Goalkeeper James DelCastillo of Corban recorded seven saves while earning the win. WU goalie Mark Bennett (So., GK, Salt Lake City, UT/West HS), in his first complete game since returning from a preseason injury, registered eight saves.

Willamette's next game is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 6 at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash. Game time is slated for 2:30 p.m. (PDT). The Bearcats will return home to face Pacific University on Sunday, Oct. 7 as part of Parents and Family Weekend, with kickoff set for 2:30 p.m. (PDT). Both of this weekend's games will count in the Northwest Conference standings.