Another Dominant Defensive Effort

MOORHEAD, Minn. (9/04/16)—Los Angeles Dodger 3-time Cy Young award-winning pitcher Clayton Kershaw would be jealous of the Cobber defense. For the second straight game Concordia pitched a double overtime shutout and for the second straight game the Cobbers wound up with a 0-0 tie.

Concordia finished off the annual Cobber Invite by battling to a 0-0 double OT with region rival St. Scholastica. The result came less than 24 hours after CC tied Wis.-Stout 0-0 in two overtimes.

The Cobber had more quality chances to score on Sunday but each time the St. Scholastica was equal to the task. With just under 20-minutes to play in the second half Concordia freshman Karsen Granning was played behind the Saints' defense on a breakaway but her shot to the far corner was stopped by the Scholastica goalie. Senior Paige McCullough then had a breakaway from the left wing but her goal-scoring attempt was also denied by the keeper.

Concordia had their best scoring opportunities in the second half when they were able to get behind the Scholastica defense.

The two overtime periods created few chances as both teams were run down after having to play overtime contests the game before.

The second straight shutout to begin the year marks the second time in the past three years that the Cobbers have opened the season with back-to-back blankings. They also accomplished the feat in 2014 when they went on to play in the NCAA tournament.

Not only has the Cobber defense not allowed a goal but they have limited their opponents to very few quality chances.

"I think our key was communicating a lot especially with our midfielders on when to drop and when to pick up marks," said senior defender Carly Mickelson. "And just being there and supporting each other when someone was ready to step."

Concordia outshot St. Scholastica 18-8 in total shots and 13-5 in shots on goal. The Cobbers allowed five shots on goal but most were from outside the penalty area. In the two games over the weekend the Concordia defense only allowed nine shots on goal.

McCullough led the team in shots with four while fellow senior Emily Payne and junior Kayla Dostal had three shots each.   

ALL TOURNAMENT TIME: The Cobbers placed three players on the All-Tournament team. Dostal, playing in the center of the field earned the nod for her stellar play over 220 minutes of action. Central defender Katie Gillette and goalie Maddy Reed also earned all-tourney honors. The two routinely stopped Stout and Scholastica from getting to the goal by picking off through balls and would-be crossing attempts.

ALL –TOURNAMENT TEAM:
Sydney Casper – Wis.-Stout
Kayla Dostal - Concordia
Katie Gillette – Concordia
Jessica Ingle – Wis.-Stout
Cali Marsaa – St. Scholastica
Taylor Olson – St. Scholastica
Maddy Reed – Concordia
Roni Rudolph – St. Scholastica
Hannah Zeis – St. Scholastica

THE GREAT WALL OF REED: Maddy Reed has now played in four games in her collegiate career and has only allowed a single goal. In addition to her 220 shutout minutes this year she also played in 167 minutes last season. She now has a career goals against average of 0.23.

WHAT'S NEXT: The Cobbers will hop a plane to the great northwest. Concordia will have two games in Washington. CC will play at Pacific Lutheran on Friday, Sept. 9 and then play Puget Sound on Sunday, Sept. 11.

Carly Mickelson Postgame Interview