Triton men earn 1-1 draw thanks to Sanchez's stoppage-time goal

LYNNWOOD, Wash. — Edmonds College (0-6-1, 0-3-1) and Whatcom Community College (7-2-2, 4-0-2) ended their match in a 1-1 draw on Saturday afternoon. Edmonds equalized in the second half after Whatcom took an early lead, with Edmonds' goalkeeper recording nine saves to help secure the result.

The first half began with Edmonds' defense holding firm as Jack Neumeyer saved multiple early attempts from Whatcom, including shots from Evan Drueding and Ben Buerger. The Tritons countered with a wide shot from Emir Romo and several corner opportunities initiated by Jose Sanchez and David Phan, but could not convert them into goals.

Despite the defensive efforts, Whatcom broke through late in the half with a goal by Moyou Franck Perron, assisted by Antonio Hrnjak at the 42nd minute. Edmonds continued to press, earning another corner before the half closed. The half ended with the Tritons trailing 1-0.

The second half began with Edmonds maintaining their defensive resilience, highlighted by Neumeyer's crucial saves against multiple Whatcom attempts. Despite receiving several fouls and a red card, the Tritons remained steadfast. In the final moments, Jose Sanchez delivered a pivotal goal off a corner kick from Romo, leveling the score at 1-1. As the half closed, Edmonds managed to secure a draw, with the scoreboard reflecting a 1-1 tie at the final whistle.

The match between Edmonds and Whatcom began with both teams displaying aggressive offensive strategies. Neumeyer was tested early with shots from Whatcom's Drueding and Buerger, both of which were saved. Edmonds had opportunities to counter, with Romo's shot going wide in the 2nd minute and a blocked attempt by Phan in the 31st minute. Despite multiple corner kicks from both sides, it was Whatcom who broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute when Perron scored, assisted by Hrnjak, giving Whatcom a 1-0 lead by the end of the first half.

The second half saw tense exchanges as both Edmonds and Whatcom sought to break the deadlock. Whatcom's Hrnjak tested Edmonds' defense early with a header in the 46th minute and a shot saved by Neumeyer in the 58th minute. The Tritons countered with attempts from Gael Beltran Garcia and Levi Martinez, the latter saved by Whatcom's Ashaan Baker. Despite multiple fouls and two yellow cards, Edmonds managed to equalize after the final whistle when Sanchez delivered in stoppage-time, bringing the game to a 1-1 draw.

Neumeyer recorded nine saves in goal, allowing just one goal on ten shots faced. Sanchez scored the team's only goal, converting his single shot into a successful attempt. Phan managed two shots despite not finding the net, contributing to the offensive efforts. Martinez added to the attack with two shots, one of which was on target.

The Tritons earn their first point in region play and hold a record of 0-6-1 overall and 0-3-1 in conference play. The visitors stand at 7-2-2 overall with a 4-0-2 conference record. Whatcom entered the match at the top of the North Region standings as the No. 4-ranked team in the NWAC.

Looking ahead, Edmonds will host Shoreline on Wednesday, Oct. 1. The match kicks off at 2 p.m. at Triton Field.