Dramatic Final 10 Minutes Spurs Cobbers To Victory

MOORHEAD, Minn. (10/23/12)—Senior All-American Sarah Rounds capped off a frantic Concordia comeback when she scored the game-winning goal against Augsburg with only 20-seconds to play to give the Cobbers a 2-1 win.

No.19-ranked Concordia was down a goal and up a player for most of the game but couldn't get on the scoreboard until the final 10 minutes of play. Sophomore defender Libby Fransdal pushed forward into attack and scored the game-tying goal at the 80:37 mark and then Rounds won the game on a header in the final minute of play.

The win is the fifth straight for the Cobbers and ninth in the last 10 games. Concordia is now 13-3-1 on the year and 9-1-0 in conference games. The 13 overall wins ties last year's total while the nine MIAC victories is the second highest total in school history. The Auggies, who entered the game in second place in the conference standings, fall to 10-5-2 in all games and 5-3-2 in the MIAC. Augsburg is tied for second place with only one regular-season game remaining.

Concordia fell behind in the 19^th minute of play when Olivia Muyres knocked home her sixth goal of the season. The game changed in the 27^th minute when the Cobbers went up a player after the Augsburg goalkeeper was shown the red card after bringing Gina Weiss on a breakaway after Weiss had pushed the ball past the oncoming keeper. Unfortunately for CC, Rounds would miss the ensuing spot kick and Concordia would trail 1-0 at the break.

The Cobbers threw everything they had at the Auggies in the final 45 minutes of play and it looked like Concordia was destined to lose 1-0. Fransdal made sure that wouldn't happen when she hit a shot just outside the penalty area on the right wing that found the far side of the net. Her third goal of the year at 80:37 broke the backs of the Auggies and made for a frenetic finish in the final nine minutes of play.

Rounds won the game on a header after sophomore midfielder Emma Ekdahl won the ball on the right wing, dribbled past a pair of defenders and then crossed the ball into the goal area. It was Rounds' 10^th goal of the season and her 31^st overall point. She has now recorded at least 30 points in thress straight seasons. Rounds has 129 career points and needs only eight more to tie the school career point record of 137 set by Angie Tohm from 1993-96.

Cobber goalie Ali Nelson had to only make two saves in the game and spent most of the second half using her distribution skills. Concordia wound up outshooting the Auggies 16-5 in total shots and 5-2 in shots on goal. Nelson earned her 13^th win of the season and 54^th career win. Her 54 career wins is the most by any Cobber goalie in program history.

Augsburg was forced to split the goalkeeping duties. Katie Gajewski played the first 26:51 until the fateful red card and was not credited with a save. Lexi Felix finished off the final 63:09 and stopped three shots.

Concordia will finish off the regular season when they play at St. Ben's on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 1 p.m.