A Cache Of Collegiate Firsts Leads To Weekend Split

MOORHEAD, Minn. (9/1/13)—No.17-ranked Concordia opened the 2013 season by splitting a pair of games over the opening weekend. The Cobbers fell 2-1 to UC-Santa Cruz at home on Friday but then rallied to down regional foe UW-Stevens Point 1-0 at St. Thomas on Sunday.

The win against the Pointers on Sunday marks the first of the Kevin Roos era who took control of Concordia in the spring. The Cobbers and Stevens Point fought to a scoreless draw until the final 15 minutes of the second half. CC was able to come up with the game winner off of a corner kick. Freshman Emily Wendorff netted her first collegiate goal in the 78^th minute. Wendorff hit a left-footed shot from the top corner of the penalty area that got past Pointer goalie Kristen Churkey. Fellow freshman Paige McCullough was credited with her first collegiate point as she picked up the assist from serving the corner kick.

Concordia had to survive the final 10 minutes of the game as Stevens Point pushed forward and came away with three of their eight shots on goal of the game. CC keeper Elizabeth Bitzan finished off the collegiate first by stopping all eight UWSP shots and recording her first collegiate shutout and victory.

The Cobbers outshot UWSP 17-12 in all shots and then 10-8 in shots on goal.

Concordia's weekend started off on a high note but then fizzled in a 10-minute span at the start of the second half against the Banana Slugs. The Cobbers scored in the second minute but then watched as UCSC scored just :30 seconds into the second period and then added the game winner in the 55^th minute.                   

Marta Prosinski scored the first goal of the year for Concordia when she poached home a rebound after Elizabeth Robinson's shot caromed off the goal post. Rochelle Hickerson picked up the other assist on the play.

The teams battled back and forth throughout much of the game after the Cobbers held the play in the opening 10 minutes of play. Concordia outshot the Banana Slugs 12-8 in total shots and 7-4 in shots on goal. UCSC had a slight advantage in corner kicks – holding a 3-2 edge. All three of Santa Cruz' corners came in the opening half of play.

Concordia will now host the Cobber Invite on Saturday, Sept. 7 and Sunday, Sept. 8. CC will square off against St. Scholastica on Saturday at 12 p.m. and then battle Augustana (Ill.) on Sunday at 12 p.m.