100th Minute Is Kind To Cobbers

STEVENS POINT, Wis. (8/30/14)—The 100th minute was very kind to Concordia in their opening weekend of the season. The Cobbers scored in the 100th minute in both games at UW-Stevens Point to come away with identical 1-0 single overtime victories.

The 1-0 wins over WIAC rivals UW-Stevens Point and UW-Oshkosh will go a long way in the regional rankings as well as postseason positioning at the end of the season. Oshkosh was selected to finish second in the WIAC's annual preseason coaches' poll.

The two wins to start the year marks the first time since 2010 that Concordia has recorded victories in back-to-back games to start the year.

Both games were controlled by Concordia with the Cobbers outshooting their opponents by a combined margin of 35-14.

The Cobbers outshot host UW-Stevens Point in the opener 19-8 but it took a long-range shot from senior defender Libby Fransdal in the first period of extra time to seal the victory. Marta Prosinski played the ball to Fransdal who lofted a long shot/cross that went over the head of the Pointer goalie and into the back of the net.

Fransdal led the Cobber defense which limited Stevens Point to only six shots on net and three corner kicks. Concordia had 11 shots on goal with senior forward Elizabeth Robinson having a team-high five shots.

The second game against UW-Oshkosh was more of the same with Concordia threatening the Titan goal for the length of regulation but only being able to get the ball in the net in the final minute of play in the first overtime.

Saturday's hero was senior midfielder Rochelle Hickerson who took a pass on the wing from forward Emily Wendorff and got by the Oshkosh defense to slide the ball into the back of the net.

The Titans only had one shot on goal for the full 90 minutes of regulation and nine minutes of overtime. CC's defense did not concede a corner kick.

The Cobbers had 11 shots on goal for the second straight day and were led by sophomore forward Paige McCullough who had five shots.

Concordia goalie Elizabeth Bitzan made seven saves on the weekend and came away with a pair of shutouts. She has now recorded four shutouts in her last five games dating back to the end of the 2013 season.

Concordia will now return to Moorhead to host the Cobber Invite. Concordia will square off against perennial national powerhouse Wheaton (Ill.) on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 5 p.m. The Thunder were ranked seventh in the NSCAA preseason national rankings and opened the season with wins over  Hope and Alma.