Second Half Stops Cobbers In Home Finale

MOORHEAD, Minn. (10/26/22)---After battling through a scoreless first half, Concordia allowed four goals in the second period and lost 4-0 to Bethel in the final home game of the 2022 season.

The Royals scored their four goals in groups of two. They were able to get on the board at the 53:20 mark, and then went up 2-0 less than four minutes later. The game stayed at 2-0 until Bethel notched their third goal at 76:07 and finished off the score sheet at 78:18.

The loss drops the Cobbers' overall record to 3-13-1 on the year. CC is 2-6-1 in league play. Bethel remains in the hunt for the final conference playoff spot. They even their overall record at 8-8-1, while moving to 4-5-0 in the MIAC which puts them one point out of sixth place in the league standings.

Both teams had a pair of chances in the first half, but neither could get on the board. The Cobbers had a couple of goalmouth scrambles but weren't able to connect on a solid shot. Sophomore defender Seth Kotzbacher had a shot from 7-yards stopped in the 25th minute of play and freshman Yousif Alshihmani tried to finish off a chaotic scramble in the 37th minute but never had a clear path to goal before it was turned aside. The other chance for the Cobbers came in the last minute of play when senior Telvin Vah's shot from 25 yards out forced the Bethel goalie into a full-out dive to make the save.

The Cobber defense was able to keep the Royals from getting any quality chances from inside the penalty area in the first 45 minutes of play, but that changed in the second half.

Bethel scored their first goal after a free kick from 30 yards out that wasn't cleared away from goal. The second chance came back to the top of the penalty area where a BU player took a shot. His shot along the ground was tipped in by a player standing all alone at the top of the 6-yard box.

The last three goals by the Royals would all come from players dribbling the ball down the right wing and making a pass to set up the goal.

Concordia was outshot 20-8 in total shots for the game. Bethel held an 11-5 edge in shots on goal.

The Cobbers had eight different players with shots in the game. Vah, Kotzbacher, Alshihmani, Max Hodny and Theo Bellamy had the shots on goal for CC.

Erick Torres played the first 62 minutes in goal for CC and made three saves. Sophomore Jensen Waltz played the final 28 minutes and turned aside two shots.

UP NEXT: Concordia will finish off the 2002 season when they play at Hamline on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 3:30 p.m.