A Successful MIAC Opener In Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. (9/13/23)---Concordia used second-half goals from Kai Black and Owen Gallo and hung on down the stretch to post a 2-1 victory over St. Scholastica in the conference opener for both teams.

The Cobbers got the first two goals of the game and then conceded the only Saints' score with 11:27 left in regulation. CC survived a flurry of St. Scholastica dead balls in the final minutes of play to grab their third win of the season.

THE 411: Concordia played with a man advantage for most of the game after one of the Saints' players was given a red card for a second yellow-card offense only 14:06 into the first half. The Cobbers couldn't take advantage of the extra player until the 13th minute of the second half. Black was the recipient of a ricochet off a St. Scholastica defender after a Concordia attacker fired a shot from 20 yards out. The ball caromed to Black, who was standing on the left side of the goal, and he calmly slotted the opening goal of the game at 57:17. The goal was Black's first of the season. Gallo put home the eventual game-winner when he finished off a nice crossing play from Leo Dunor. Duhor beat the CSS defender on the right wing and then fired the ball across the face of the goal. Gallo was alone on the back post and tapped home the bunny. The goal at 66:09 doubled the Cobbers' lead.

St. Scholastica scored their only goal at 78:33 off of a long throw-in from the right wing. After the ball was flicked into the middle of the goal area, a Saints' attacker 1-timed the ball past Cobber goalie Jensen Waltz.

The Cobbers had to defend a trio of dead balls in the final 2:30 of play, but didn't allow a quality chance and earned the 1-goal win.

THE NEXT LEVEL: Dunor and Gallo continued their offensive ways in the MIAC opener. The pair have scored six of the team's 11 goals, netted all three game-winning goals and have 14 of the 31 points on the season. The duo has also put up 30 of the team's 68 shots for the season.

Duhor leads the team with four goals and two assists and has a point in four of the team's five games. CC is 3-1 when he gets on the stat sheet. Gallo has a pair of goals for the year.

RECORDS AND STUFF: Concordia is now 3-2-0 on the year and has won two of its last three games. The Saints drop to 1-4-0 and fail to complete the Concordia sweep. St. Scholastica posted a 2-1 win over Concordia (Wis.) on Sunday. The 2-1 win for the Cobbers marks the second straight year the CC has gone into Duluth and returned with a 2-1 victory.    

THE NUMBERS GAME: The Cobbers outshot St. Scholastica 23-11 in total shots and 8-6 in shots on goal. The 23 total shots are the most by the Cobbers in 2023. CC also held a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks. Both teams had 10 fouls in the game, and the referee dished out nine cards.

INDIVIDUALLY SPEAKING: Gannon Brooks led the team in total shots, while senior defender Matthew Nemer had a team-high two shots on frame. Waltz made five saves in the 90 minutes to pick up his third win of the season and lower his GAA to 1.60.

UP NEXT: Concordia will return home to battle Carleton on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 12 p.m. The Knights are 5-0-0 on the year and coming off a 1-0 win over Gustavus.