Seniors Sent Off With Win Over St. Ben's
MOORHEAD, Minn. (10/29/11)—Concordia capped the 2011 regular season by scoring a goal in each half and beating league-leading St. Ben's 2-1. With the win, the Cobbers earn their seventh victory in MIAC play and will be the No.3 seed in the upcoming conference playoffs.
Concordia heads into the second season with an overall record of 11-2-5 and a mark of 7-1-3 in conference play. It is the third straight season they have won at least seven conference games and eighth time in the last nine years they achieved that mark. The loss snaps a three-game win streak for the Blazers. It is also ends a nine-game conference unbeaten streak. CSB is now 11-6-1 overall and finishes MIAC play with an 8-2-1 mark.
The Cobbers seized control of the match in the sixth minute of play. Junior Sarah Rounds was able to get by the Blazer defense on the left side and then knocked home the opening goal of the game when her shot went over the top of the St. Ben's keeper. Kelsey Swagger and Liz Robinson were credited with the assists on Rounds' team-leading 12th goal of the year. It is also her league-leading seventh goal in conference play.
Concordia continued to take the fight to the Blazer defense and had six shots in the next 25 minutes including one that clanked off the crossbar. CSB then scored against the run of play when Kirstina Burk scored her first goal of the season when she knocked home a cross from Colleen Bouchard.
The start of the second half was played in the middle of the field as the two teams could only muster three shots in the first 20 minutes of play. Concordia got the game-winning goal in the 68th minute on a rebound goal from freshman Laura Prosinski. Prosinski was in the perfect place in the penalty area to knock home the game-winner after a cross from Swagger landed six-yards out from goal. It was Prosinski's fourth overall goal of the season and second game winner.
The Cobbers then put the clamps on the St. Ben's offense, not allowing a shot on net in the final 22 minutes of the second half.
Concordia wound up outshooting the Blazers 14-7 in total shots for the game. CC also had a 7-3 edge in shots on goal. Rounds led all players with seven shots. She finishes the regular season with an MIAC best 79 overall shots. Both teams had three corner kicks in the game.
CC keeper Ali Nelson needed to make two stops in the game to come away with her 10th win of the year. She now has put together three straight 10-win seasons. St. Ben's goalie Megan Favorite had five saves.
Concordia will now turn its attention to the annual ritual of playoff soccer. The Cobbers will face familiar conference tournament foe Carleton on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. in Northfield. The Cobbers and Knights have squared off in four of the last five MIAC tournaments. Three of the four games have ended in double overtime ties.
