Different Game Same Result

WINONA, Minn.  (10/01/16)—For the second straight conference game Concordia gave up a goal in each half and lost 2-0. On Saturday the Cobbers conceded a score with 8-seconds remaining in the first half and lost at St. Mary's .

The game was eerily similar to Concordia's 2-0 loss to St. Thomas on Wednesday when they allowed a goal with 22-seconds left in the opening period and another midway through the second to drop the two-goal decision.

The Cobbers have now lost three straight games – all by identical 2-0 scores – and remain winless in the MIAC this season. Concordia is 3-6-1 overall and 0-5 in the MIAC.

The game followed the trend of college soccer in 2016 with little passing possession in the middle of the field. The reliance is on long passes out of the defense to try and win possession in the opposing team's penalty area and then a player who possesses a long throw-in to create chances around the goal area.  

This concept paid off for the Cardinals at the end of the first half when they had a succession of throw-ins from around the Concordia penalty area. The final scoring play came when the throw-in specialist tossed the ball in from the left wing and launched it into the middle of the area. The ball was headed into the left corner of the net and the game instantly turned in the Cardinals' favor.

The majority of the second half would be played between the penalty areas. Each team had one chance from outside 20 yards in the first 24 minutes of the final period. St. Mary's put the game out of reach in the 80th minute when a long goal kick was played into the left corner outside the CC penalty area. The Cardinal attacker was able to play the ball into the area where a teammate ran on to the pass and knocked it into the near side of the net.

Concordia would have three total shots, and two shots on goal, in the final 10 minutes of play as they pressed forward to try and get on the board.

St. Mary's held a 12-10 edge in total shots while each team had four shots on goal. Both teams had seven players record at least one shot in the game. The Cobbers had three players take two shots with freshman Sam Gess and sophomore defender Austin Peterson each having two shots and one sot on goal.

Cobber goalie Ben Glogoza made two saves on the day and now has a league-leading 67 stops on the year.

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will play at Northwestern (Minn.) on Monday, Oct. 3 and then square off with Carleton in the annual Homecoming game at Concordia on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 1 p.m. against Carleton.