A Late-Game, Pressure Release Victory

MOORHEAD, Minn. (9/28/21)---Telvin Vah's banger of a goal with 1:26 left in the second half proved to be more than just the game-winning tally. It released a huge pressure valve for the Cobbers as several unwanted streaks came to an end.

The goal was Vah's second in the final 20 minutes of play which erased a 1-goal, second-half deficit against St. John's and led to a hard-fought 2-1 victory Concordia. The late-game victory took the air out of winless streaks at home – and in conference play – and put an end to a 7-game losing skid.

The game started on the absolute wrong foot for the Cobbers. The Johnnies put pressure in Concordia's back third and the offensive play paid off at the 4:28 mark when SJU took possession of the ball, 40 yards out from goal on the right wing. The St. John's attacker played a long diagonal ball into the left corner where an attacker ran on to the pass and played a perfect timed volley back across the face of the goal where 6-5 midfielder Matt D. Anderson was waiting on the top of the 6-yard box, and headed home the cross.         

The goal would hold up throughout the rest of the first half as neither team had any real quality chances to get the second goal of the game.

The two pivotal moments of the game came in the second half. Cobber first-year head coach Andy Kohel made a tactical change in player personnel that paid huge dividends, and then junior goalie Erick Torres made the save of the season in the 11th minute of the second period of play.

Torres' game-saving save came with the Johnnies up 1-0 and the game hanging in the balance. The ball was bounced around the top of the CC penalty area and finally found an open St. John's attacker on the left wing. He was able to play a cross to the back post where Anderson ran on to the cross and use his 6-5 frame to slide and redirect the ball towards the middle of the net. Torres followed the cross to the right post and was able to kick out his right leg as the ball was about to go past him towards the middle of the goal.

Spurred on by Torres' save and much more committed stance to winning the ball in the middle of the field, Concordia started to apply pressure to the Johnnie goal.

Their elevated pay was rewarded in the 72nd minute when the Cobbers were awarded a free kick just underneath the center circle. The ball was played into the penalty area where an attempted SJU clearance went backwards and bounce on the left corner of the 6-yard box. Vah was able to beat the St. John's defenders, and the onrushing goalie, to the ball. Vah played a little flick that went over the top of the goalie and settled under the crossbar in the back of the net.

Vah's first goal of the game at the 71:56 mark was his fifth of the season.

Concordia thought they had the go-ahead goal in the 81st minute when Nate Weaver was played through the back of the SJU defense on a pass from Vah. Weaver finished off the breakaway only to have the linesman raise his flag for an offside goal on the counterattack.

The Cobbers overcame the setback and Vah added the real game winner with under 2-minutes to play. Vah battled his way to take possession of the ball, 25 yards out from goal on the left wing. He eluded a pair of defenders as he cut into the middle of the field and then absolutely powdered a wicked shot that went around the central defender and curled inside the far, right post.

Vah's sixth goal of the year was also his second game-winning goal of the season and the 11th overall tally of his career.

Concordia held a 7-6 edge in total shots for the game and a 5-4 margin in shots on goal. The Johnnies had six corners as compared to two for CC.

Torres made three saves to collect his second win of the year.

UP NEXT: Concordia will make their longest conference road trip of the season on Saturday when they play at St. Mary's at 12:30. The Cardinals are 3-6-0 overall and 0-4-0 in conference play.