Everett entered yesterday's match in sole possession of first place, and hoping to build their lead in the points standings with another win. The Cardinals of Skagit Valley College opened up North Region play with two losses and coming off of a 3-1 win over Shoreline hoping to build on that momentum. Neither team was willing to bend, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
Both teams had their opportunites in the first half, Everett more so than Skagit Valley. The Trojans got 6 shots forcing 4 saves by the Cardinal goalkeeper, while EvCC keeper Cameron Beardlsey was never truly tested on 5 Cardinal shots. The break came in the 35th minute when a hard shot by Manuel Segura was deflected by the Cardinal goalkeeper and finished with a left footed kick by Mamadi Sarr before the keeper could recover.
The Trojans would go into the half with the lead, but shortly after halftime the Cardinals responded with a goal of their own. Skilled passing and a lapse in defensive pressure by the Trojans resulted in the Cardinal equalizer. Ten minutes later in the 63rd minute Manuel Segura would draw a foul just outside the penalty box setting up a strong opportunity to score. Segura would get the call to take the shot and bent a beautiful low shot around the wall, but the SVC goalkeeper was just able to get a hand on it and punch it away.
The last 15 minutes of the match had a number of pressure filled moments where both teams had some opportunities but neither were able to capitalize. The last solid chance for the Trojans to score the game winner came in the 89th minute off of a corner kick that found the foot of team captain Cade Cooke. Cade collected a flick header from Mamadi Sarr and sent it to the far post, but a diving effort from the Skagit goalkeeper prevented any late game heroics.
The 1-1 draw gives the Trojans one point in the North Region Standings. A Peninsula win earlier in the day brings the two teams even at 10 total points setting up what is sure to be an epic game this Saturday between the Trojans and Pirates. Aside from control over first place in the standings through the first third of the season, the game will feature 5 of the NWAC's 13 leading goal scorers, and both Everett and Peninsula are among the top 3 teams in the NWAC in offensive production. Kickoff is set for 2:25pm at Kasch Park.