Late-Game Lightning Strikes Again

ST. PAUL, Minn. (10/12/21)--- The saying is that, "lightning never strikes the same place twice." For the Cobbers, lightning has now struck the same spot for the fourth time.

Concordia gave up another late-game, game-winning goal and lost 3-2 at St. Catherine.

The Cobbers battled the Wildcats to a 2-2 deadlock until the 88:19 mark when CSU netted the game winner. It marked the fourth straight game Concordia has lost by a singles goal – and the fourth straight game the deciding goal has come in the last 15 minutes of play.    

The game featured several swings of momentum and had three lead changes. St. Kate's struck first at the 15:33 mark, but then CC countered with a pair of goals in a span of 13:49 to grab a 2-1 lead.   

The Cobbers' first strike, and game-tying goal, might have been the best of the season for CC. Senior Samantha Dalsin won possession of the ball on the right wing and played it forward to Amber Weibye. Weibye delivered a cross to the top of the 6-yard box where Lauren Tschider ran on to the serve, jumped in the air and headed the ball home before the goalie could grab the initial cross.

Tschider's diving header goal at 23:29 was her third of the season.

The 1-1 tie would last for less than 15 minutes – and once again it would be the Tschider/Weibye combination. The go-ahead go would have the roles reversed as Tschider made the pass to Weibye who hit a curling shot from the left side of the penalty area that found the left side netting.

Weibye's fourth goal of the season came at the 37:18 mark and sent the Cobbers into the break with a 2-1 lead.

St. Catherine (8-1-3, 5-1-1 MIAC) stepped up their offensive attack at the start of the second half and were rewarded in the 18th minute of the period when they were awarded a penalty kick. The Wildcat attacker cut the ball into the top of the penalty area from the left wing and was tripped up by a CC defender. The ensuing spot kick found the back of the net and tied the game at 62:49.

The goal was a wake-up call for the Cobbers who spent the next 15 minutes in the St. Kate's end of the field. Concordia had several chances on goal with the best opportunity coming from a corner kick. Samantha Holmberg served the ball into the penalty area where Tschider once again rose above the defense to head the ball. Her header was going towards the open goal but got knocked out of play by a CC teammate who couldn't get out of the way of Tschider's powerful header.        

The offensive zone time turned back in favor of the Wildcats and Concordia goalie Bre Nelson came through with a pair of huge goal-stopping saves. The second big stop came after a corner kick with just under 10-minutes to play. The corner was sent to the other side of the field where a CSU attacker tracked down the ball. She then sent a cross back into the penalty area where a pair of teammates were camped at the top of the 6-yard box. The serve was headed down towards a sure goal, but Nelson had scrambled back across the goal mouth and was able to make the save to keep the scored deadlocked at 2-2.

The game-winning goal came with less than 2-minutes to play in regulation. St. Kate's won the ball in the middle of the field and played it to the right wing. The Wildcat attacker cut in towards the penalty area and sent a low, hard shot that found its way just inside the right post.  

Concordia was outshot 22-7 in total shots for the game and 15-4 in shots on goal.

Nelson made a career-high 12 saves on the day.

UP NEXT: Concordia will stay on the road when they play at Augsburg on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m.