Second-Half Scores Stop Cobbers

MOORHEAD, Minn. (9/23/23)---A pair of goals in the second half sent Concordia to its second straight conference loss at home. The Cobbers were tied with nationally-ranked Macalester at the halftime break but allowed a goal in the 53rd minute of play and the backbreaker in the 81st minute and fell 3-1.

The Cobbers are now 4-4-0 in all games and 1-2-0 in the MIAC. The Scots move to 6-1-2 overall and 2-1-0 in league play.
   
THE 411: For the second straight Saturday, Concordia was done in by the second half. Last Saturday, the Cobbers trailed unbeaten Carleton 2-0 at the break but then lost track of the Knights in the final 45 minutes of play. Against Macalester, CC was locked in a tight battle until the second-half goals cost Concordia a chance at the win.

Macalester struck first with a goal at 15:17 of the opening period. The play of Cobber keeper Jensen Waltz kept CC in the game until the offense could find its way. Waltz made several point-blank diving stops to keep the score line at 1-0.

Owen Gallo tied the game with a goal at the 25-minute mark. He received a pass from Gannon Brooks, took on a Scot defender 1-on-1, cut the ball to his right foot and fired a shot into the right corner of the net. The goal was Gallo's third of the year.

Concordia's other quality chance in the first half came from a free kick 20-yards out from the goal. Mason Weigel curled a left-footed shot around the wall, but the Macalester goalie was able to extend and turn the shot around the post.          
   
THE NEXT LEVEL: You may have heard this one before, but the Cobbers survived another penalty kick chance. The Scots were awarded a penalty kick at the 64:52 mark of the second half. The Macalester center back stepped and pushed the spot kick wide of the left post. That was the fifth penalty kick of the season taken against CC, and opponents have yet to convert. Waltz has stopped three PKs, with one clanging off the post and the fifth going wide.

THE NEXT LEVEL 2.0: The game was a relatively clean affair and did not feature a yellow or red card being awarded. It's the first time this year that no cards were handed out, and first time since the third game of last season that has occurred.

BY THE NUMBERS: Macalester held a 23-7 advantage in total shots and a 14-3 shots on goal. The Scots also won the corner kick battle with a 10-3 margin.

INDIVIDUALLY SPEAKING: Waltz made 10 saves in the game – his second straight 10-save performance. He now has 50 stops on the season, tops in the MIAC.

Gallo had a team-high three shots to go along with his first-half goal. He has 15 shots on the year.  
 
UP NEXT: Concordia will travel to St. Paul for a midweek game at Hamline on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 4 p.m.