Double Delay For Conference Opener

ROSEVILLE, Minn. (4/06/21)---It was a double delay for Concordia's 2021 MIAC opener. The Cobbers had to wait until spring to start the fall season and then had to wait during the opener for a lightning delay.  

When the opener finally finished, the Cobbers held the statistical advantage in every category except where it counts most, on the scoreboard. Concordia put up more total shots, more shots on goal and took more corner kicks than Bethel but couldn't put the ball in the net and lost 1-0 to the Royals in the spring conference opener.

It was a long time coming for Concordia as they finally got to open MIAC play after the conference season was postponed from the fall - and the game would prove to just as strange. A lightning storm went through the area just after halftime and play had to be halted for almost a full hour. Even after the delay, the CC offense still couldn't come up with the game-tying goal despite having the better of the chances in the game.

The lone goal of the game came at the 31:49 mark of the first half and it was the first shot on goal of the day for the Royals. The game winner involved some soccer luck for Bethel. A pair of Cobber defenders converged on the BU attacker with the ball just outside the penalty area. ONe of the CC defenders made the tackle to take the ball away but the ball proceedd to ricochet off the attacker and carom directly back into her path. She then fired a shot on the ground towards the left corner which Cobber freshman goalie Breanna Nelson turned aside on a diving stop. Unfortunately for Concordia the rebound went right to another front runner who was crashing the net and she was able to tap the ball into the open net.

Concordia held up a consistent offensive attack throughout the game. The Cobbers finished with 15 total shots and eight shots on net. The 15 shots were more than only one conference game in 2019.

The Cobbers held a 15-4 advantage in overall shots in the opener and CC had an 8-3 edge in shots on goal. Concordia also had more corner kicks in the game with a 7-5 margin. Those numbers, and the final score, are a huge turnaround from 2019 when the Cobbers got beat 5-2 and were outshot 22-14.   

Senior Klara Beinhorn led the Concordia offense with three total shots and two shots on frame. Hannah Sandin and Samantha Dalsin had two shots each in the first official game of 2021.

Nelson made two saves in her collegiate debut.

UP NEXT: Concordia will host its home opener on Sunday, Apr. 11 when they host St. Catherine at 1:30 p.m. inside Jake Christiansen Stadium. The game will be the first of the season for the Wildcats.    

RECAP SPONSOR: Today's recap is sponsored by Buffalo Wild Wings. Concordia athletics would like to thank B-Dubs for their continued support of all our student/athletes.