Newcomers Net Overtime Win

MOORHEAD, Minn. (10/22/16)--- You'll have to excuse Concordia head coach Ben Schneweis if he wants the MIAC season to start this week. The Cobbers, who started seven newcomers, are finally finding their stride and proved they are maturing as a team as goal from freshman Aronah Mukhtar in the seventh minute of overtime helped Concordia beat Bethel 3-2.

The win is the first conference victory for the young Cobbers. The three goals are also the most for the CC in any game this season. Unfortunately for Concordia they started to find their stride with just three games left to play in the year.

Concordia is now 6-9-1 overall and 1-8-0 in conference play. Bethel loses for only the second time in the last five games and falls to 8-71 in all games and 2-5-2 in the MIAC.

It was a game of different halves with Concordia scoring twice in the first half to take a 2-0 lead at the break and then Bethel notching two in the second half to send the game into overtime.

The Cobbers got on the board at the 15:32 mark when the first of three newcomers found the back of the net. Midfielder Wyatt Holwagner played the ball from the Cobber end of the field to newcomer Austin Peterson just inside the Royal half of play. Peterson then took three dribbles and made a pass across the field to freshman Sam Gess who received the ball 30 yards out from goal. Gess took advantage of a Bethel defender who fell over on the play and went untouched on a breakaway.

Gess dribbled the ball towards the left post inside the penalty area, cut it back to his right foot and then curled a shot just inside the far right post.

The goal was Gess' second of the season while Holwagner earned his first collegiate assist.      

Peterson would double the Cobbers' lead in the 38th minute of play. Freshman Henry Schaefer served the ball into the Royal penalty area from the left wing. A Bethel defender cleared the ball to the top of the area where junior Jacob Schmidt headed the ball back towards goal. Holwagner then headed the ball even closer towards the goal where Peterson was waiting.  Peterson then buried a left-footed half volley to give CC a 2-0 lead at the 37:20 mark.

Peterson earned his second goal in the last four games and also his sixth point in the last four games.

The second half was mostly Bethel. The Royals got to within a single goal less than five minutes into the second period and then tied the game with only 4:13 to play in regulation. The Cobbers tried to hang on to the lead for the majority of the half and weren't able to generate the same style of offense as they did in the first 45 minutes.

The overtime period once again found the teams switching offensive outputs. The Cobbers had the better of the play and pushed the attack to the Royal defense.

The game-winning goal came from a play on the right wing. Schmidt was able to beat a defender down the win and cut the ball back to Gess who was standing at the top of the Bethel penalty area. Gess then one-timed a pass to his left to a wide-open Mukhtar. Mukhtar had his initial shot stopped by a sprawling Royal goalie. The rebounded came right back to Mukhtar who slid home the winner from five yards out.

Both teams had 19 total shots in the game. Concordia held a slight 10-9 edge in shots on goal. Peterson had a game-high seven shots and Mukhtar had four shots and three shots on goal.

Cobber goalie Ben Glogoza made seven saves to earn his third win of the year.

OPENING GOAL OPTIMISM: Concordia is now 6-0-1 in 2016 when they score the first goal of the game.     

WHAT'S NEXT: The Cobbers will play their final league game of the year on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at Gustavus at 3:30 p.m. Concordia will then return to Moorhead to host the final game of the 2016 on Saturday, Oct. 29 when they battle St. Scholastica in a non-conference game. 

CONCORDIA vs. BETHEL HIGHLIGHTS