A Perfect Start In Arden Hills

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. (10/13/12)—Concordia scored three goals in the first 20:02 of play at Bethel on Saturday and rolled to a 3-0 win over the Royals. Jared Rice shook off a sprained ankle to record a pair of goals and lead the Cobbers to their sixth win of the season.

The victory pushes the Cobbers into the thick of a mixed-up MIAC playoff race. CC is now 3-4-0 in league play and in a tie for seventh place. Concordia is only four points out of fourth place – and the final postseason spot. The Cobbers are now 6-9-0 overall which is one more victory than the team had in all of 2011. Bethel loses for the third straight game and falls to 1-6-0 in the conference and 2-12-0 overall.

The game was over before the 21^st minute of play. Junior wing Michael Fortson started the first-half scoring fiesta when he tapped home a cross from Kristian Reiersgord at the 4:17 mark. It was Forston's fourth goal of the year and 10^th overall point.                   

Rice then added the insurance goal and the game breaker in a span of less than eight minutes. He was able to raise above the defense and head home a cross off of a corner kick for his first goal at 13:58 and then beat the goalie from distance after was able to get possession of the ball after a turnover in the middle of the field. Matt Glogoza was credited with his team-leading fifth assist of the year on the corner-kick goal at 13:58. Rice's second goal of the game at 20:02 was his team-leading sixth of the season. He now has 16 points on the year which is three more than he had in the past two seasons combined.

 Concordia did all their damage in the first half, outshooting Bethel 7-2 in the period. The Cobbers played on their heels in the second half as they protected their three-goal advantage. CC had the tables turned in the second 45 minutes and was outshot 7-1.

Bethel held a 9-8 edge in total shots for the game but Concordia had a 5-4 margin in shots on goal. CC also held the upperhand in corner kicks with a 4-3 advantage.

CC keeper Peter Runquist stopped all four shots he faced and picked up his fifth shutout of the season. That is one more than he had in 2011. Bethel goalie Chris Scott made two saves and was saddled with his seventh loss of the year.

Concordia will have a week off before stepping back to action in Northfield against St. Olaf on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 1 p.m. in a key game for both teams.