First And Last Minute Malaise

INDIANOLA, Iowa (10/08/17)---Goals in the first minute of the opening half and the last minute of the first period proved to be the difference in Concordia's 3-1 loss at unbeaten Simpson.

The Cobbers conceded a goal at the 47-second mark of the first half and then the seconds with only 6-seconds remaining in the frame and had their one-game win streak come to an end.

Concordia is now 3-7-1 overall while regionally-ranked Simpson improves to 13-0-1.

The Cobbers knew before the game that they were going to take care of the Storms' top two scorers if they were going to have a chance to get a result. Tanner Alderson and Garret Pochup are two of the top forwards in the region and each entered the game with at least 12 goals on the year.

Unfortunately for Concordia both Alderson and Pochup scored in the game and their play in the final third of the field proved to be the difference in the game.

Alderson netted his 14th goal of the year in the first minute of play. He was able to run on to a cross and head the ball into the net.

The game then went back-and-forth between the penalty areas for the remainder of the first 45 minutes of play. Simpson had a quality chance on a breakaway and then the Cobbers nearly tied the game in the 29th minute of play when sophomore Sam Gess hammered a shot from just inside the penalty area after a corner kick. Gess' shot appeared to be headed for the left corner of the net but the Storm goalie was able to get a hand on the shot as he dove to his right.

The game turned in favor of Simpson in the dying seconds of the first half. Simpson was awarded a free kick from just inside the half line. The ball was lofted into the Cobber penalty area, bounced as players converged and eluded CC goalie Jackson Carr.

The Storm went up 3-0 in the 58th minute of play when Pochup converted a penalty kick for his 13th goal of the year.

Concordia got to within two goals at the 85:23 mark when senior Jacob Schmidt pounced on a bouncing ball at the top of the penalty area and volleyed home his first goal of the season.

Simpson outshot Concordia 17-9 in total shots. The Storm held a slight 7-5 edge in shots on goal. Freshman Sawyer Strait led the Cobbers with two strikes on goal.

Carr stopped four shots in his 10th start of the season.

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will host league-leading, and No.7-ranked, St. Thomas on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 4 p.m. The Tommies are 12-1/6-0 MIAC and are coming off a pair of wins over the weekend.