Second-Half Success In St. Paul

ROSEVILLE, Minn. (4/08/21)---Concordia scored a goal in each half and beat Bethel 2-1 in the 2021 conference opener.

Junior Nate Weaver's goal at the 63:14 proved to be the eventual game winner in a contest where the Cobbers outshot the Royals 11-4 in the second half and 17-12 for the game.

The victory is the second straight to start the 2021 spring season for Concordia. The Cobbers opened the delayed fall season by beating Jamestown 4-3 in overtime. The win is also the first time CC has beaten Bethel since 2016.  

Concordia never trailed in the game as sophomore Matthew Nemer got CC on the board in the 10th minute with his first collegiate goal. Fellow sophomore Telvin Vah picked up his first of two assists on the night on the opening goal of the game at 9:10.

The lead wouldn't last more than six minutes. Bethel found the equalizer at 14:47 and the game would remain deadlocked at 1-1 heading into the halftime break.

The Cobbers were outshot in the first half 8-6 but both teams had two shots on goal.

The second half would be a different story as Concordia turned up the offensive pressure, started to possess the ball more often and had the better of the chances in the final 45 minutes.

The Cobbers had three shots on frame in the first 5:34 of the final half.

Weaver would record his first goal of the season in the 19th minute of the second period. Vah played Weaver behind the Bethel defense with a pass from the middle of the field. Weaver was able to run on to the ball and tip it over the onrushing BU goalie from just inside the Royals' penalty area.

Concordia continued to press the Bethel goal and hold possession for the final 25 minutes of the game. CC only conceded one Bethel shot on goal after they scored the game winner at 63:14.

Weaver led all players with four total shots and two shots on goal. Vah had three total shots and one on net.

Sophomore goalie Noah Sahr was the beneficiary of the solid Cobber play and only had to turn aside two shots to pick up his second win of the season.

VAH-LUABLE SET UP MAN: Vah has now recorded multiple-assist games in the Cobbers' first two contests of the year. He also had two helpers at Jamestown and now has four for the year. His four assists are one more than his season total in 2019. Vah currently leads the MIAC in assists this year.    

UP NEXT: Concordia will host its home opener on Wednesday, Apr. 14 when they host St. John's at 5 p.m. inside Jake Christiansen Stadium. The Cobbers and Johnnies faced each other in an exhibition match at the end of March with the contest finishing as a 2-2 tie.
 
RECAP SPONSOR: Tonight's recap sponsor is Bursch Travel. Bursch Travel has been a longtime sponsor of Cobber athletics and when the men's soccer team traveled to California back in the 90's, Bursch Travel made sure all the arrangements went smoothly.