TCC Men's Soccer secures a playoff spot with win over Pierce

TACOMA, Wash. — Tacoma defeated Pierce 5-0 on Wednesday, with Tacoma's defense allowing only one shot on goal throughout the match.

The first half began with Tacoma applying consistent offensive pressure, generating multiple scoring opportunities early on. The Titans' attempts on goal were frequent, with shots from Davyd Fedina, Taylor Pierce, and Kuan-Lin Chen narrowly missing the target. Tacoma continued to press, but Nathan Bidinger, Pierce's goalkeeper, made several critical saves to keep the visitors in the game.

Tacoma's persistence paid off in the 38th minute when Taylor Duffek found the back of the net, assisted by Davyd Fedina, putting the home team ahead. Despite additional efforts, including a shot from Takumi Sugihara that struck the post, Tacoma maintained their advantage. The half closed with Tacoma leading Pierce 1-0.

Tacoma began the second half strongly, capitalizing on a corner from Bennett Erickson that led to Kuan-Lin Chen's goal, extending their lead. In the 62nd minute, Nathan Coyle found the net, assisted by Takumi Sugihara, pushing Tacoma further ahead. Erickson added another goal shortly after with assistance from Fedina, marking a significant momentum swing for Tacoma.

As the half progressed, Tacoma maintained offensive pressure. Coyle netted his second goal, again assisted by Sugihara, solidifying Tacoma's commanding position. The defense held firm, preventing Pierce from mounting any comeback. The half concluded with Tacoma securing a 5-0 lead.

Duffek scored one goal, finding the net with both of his shots on target. Sugihara assisted twice and led Tacoma with eight shots, four of which were on goal. Erickson contributed to the team's offensive efforts with one goal and one assist. Coyle was effective in front of the goal, scoring twice with his two shots on target.

Bidinger was in the spotlight, recording six saves during his 73 minutes of play. Despite Pierce's limited offensive showing, Dylan Salapu managed one of the team's few attempts on goal. Preston Bjorn contributed with one save during his brief 16 minutes on the field.

Tacoma is 7-2-3 overall and 0-12-1 in conference play. The Raiders hold a 6-2-3 overall record and are 0-11-1 in conference competition.

Looking ahead, Tacoma will travel to Centralia, WA, for their upcoming match against Centralia on Saturday, Oct. 25. The game is set to begin at noon.

Go Titans!