Storm Game Goes South In Second Half

ST. JOSEPH, Minn. (10/22/21)---Concordia led Gustavus 2-1 at halftime, but then allowed four second-half goals and lost 5-2 in a game that had cancelled due to a lightning storm on October 9.

The Cobbers took a 1-goal lead in the final five minutes of the opening period on a goal from Tyson Aberle. The Gusties seized control of the contest, which was played at St. Benedict per MIAC guidelines, in a span of 15 minutes in the beginning of the final 45 minutes. Gustavus scored three times in that period of play and Concordia had goalkeeper Erick Torres sent off for a tripping foul on a breakaway.

The loss drops the Cobbers' overall record to 5-9-0 on the season. They are now 2-5-0 in the MIAC. With the come-from-behind victory, Gustavus improves its marks to 11-4-0 in all games and 5-2-0 in league play.

Neither team had any quality chances in the first 30 minutes of play. Gustavus was able to hit the crossbar on a shot from distance and freshman defender Seth Kotzbacher fired a header wide of the left post on a corner kick.

Concordia opened the 7-goal game in the 31st minute when junior Telvin Vah struck for the eighth time in the last five games. He received the ball 20 yards out from goal outside the left edge of the penalty area. Vah then dribbled to his right, cut the ball past a defender and fired a hard, low shot that found the left corner of the net from 18 yards out.

The goal was Vah's MIAC-leading 12th of the season. That total is fourth highest in program history in a single season. He also has 29 total points which leads the league.   

Torres then made a couple of diving stops to keep the Cobbers in front 1-0, before Gustavus tied the game at the 39:46 mark.

The 1-1 tie score would last 37 seconds. Concordia took the restart, put together a string of passes and then freshman Kai Black had his shot from 25 yards out deflect off a GAC defender and go out of play over the end line on the left side of goal.

Vah took the ensuing corner and delivered a serve that bounced off a pair of players inside the 6-yard box. Aberle pounced on the loose ball and hammered it into the top of the net for his second goal in as many games.

Torres made another save late in the first half to give CC the 2-1 lead at the break.

The game came unraveled for the Cobbers in the 51st minute of play – and then Gustavus took control with a trio of goals in 15 minutes. The first came from a near post header on the right wing at the 50:52 mark.            

Concordia was then knocked down to 10 men when Torres came out to stop a breakaway and the Gustavus forward was able to reach the ball just before Torres could get a foot on it at the top of the box. The Gustie attacker tripped over Torres and Torres was sent off at 51:24 for a trip on a goal scoring chance.

Gustavus scored the eventual game-winning goal 2:22 after Concordia was forced to play with 10 players. They added a pair of insurance goals at 65:44 and 76:26 to push the final total to 5-2.

Gustavus held a 19-8 edge in total shots and a 11-2 mark in shots on goal. Nate Weaver led CC with three shots.

Torres made five saves in the first 51:24 and freshman Jensen Waltz stopped one shot in the final 38:36.

UP NEXT: Concordia will host No.10-ranked St. Olaf on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 12:30 p.m. The Oles lead the MIAC with a 7-0-0 mark and are 13-1-1 overall.