MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – Playing in her first career game, rookie goalkeeper
Erin Isbister was able to stop the first six shots she faced for the Linfield Wildcats, before the Corban Warriors were finally able to get past the rookie goalkeeper to win 3-1 on Saturday night.
Linfield falls to 1-2 on the season, with one non-conference game remaining, while Corban improves to 2-2.
The Warriors were aggressive to start the game, but
Erin Isbister and the Wildcats defense were able to hold them off, stopping the first six shots.
Corban scored their first goal of the game on a corner kick, where the Wildcats had multiple opportunities to clear the ball out of the box, but were not able to and Eve Ponce found the back of the net.
The Wildcats were not able to get past the Warriors defense, who came into the game giving up more than three goals per game, but restricted the Wildcats to just one on Saturday night.
Freshman goalkeeper
Erin Isbister started in net for the Wildcats in place of
Madi Reimer, who missed the game due to an injury and the Warriors looked to attack the rookie netminder.
The other two goals in the game for Corban came from shots well outside the box as they were just above the reach of Isbister.
Isbister was able to seven of the 10 shots she faced, but it was not enough as the Warriors saved seven of the eight shots on goal.
The Wildcats scored their lone goal on a penalty kick by
Madison Topaum, her third of the season, all coming in the last two games.
The best chance to tie the game at two, came in the second half for the Wildcats but a shot by
Michayla Sponsel went just over the post to maintain the lead for the Warriors.
Through games played on Saturday night, Topaum leads the Northwest Conference with three goals and six points in the young season.
The goal by Topaum gave the Wildcats eight total team goals, which is first in the NWC through the first three games.
Having just five shots in the first half, the Wildcats were more aggressive in the second having 14 in the half, both teams had 19 shots in the game.
Despite the loss on Saturday night, the Wildcats still hold a 11-6-3 lead in the all-time series over the Warriors, who have won the last three matchups.
UP NEXT
Linfield concludes the non-conference part of the schedule at Northwest next Saturday at 1 p.m., before returning home to take Pacific to begin conference play on Sept. 18.
