ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Golden Bear soccer team closed out the 2016 regular season with 3-2 loss to Winona State (8-9-1, 5-9-1 NSIC) Sunday afternoon at Sea Foam Stadium. With the loss, CSP has been eliminated from playoff contention.
 
"We got off to a really slow start and that affected the outcome of the game. It is hard to battle back when you fall behind 2-0, but we battled hard, we were courageous and we took some chances. Winona scored some very impressive goals as well. We will leave with our heads held high, it was a good season and we will look to build upon it heading into next year." Head coach Steve Bellis said following the last game of the season.
 
It didn't take long for the first goal of the game to be scored as Winona State found the back of the net just one minute and 14 seconds into the game curtesy of Darian Molter.
 
The Warriors would keep up the offensive pressure as they would attempt three more shots in a two minute span before notching their second goal of the game at the 15:45 minute mark in the first half. Mikaella Sabinash would be credited with the goal after she placed a perfect shot to the far corner of the net out of the reach of goalkeeper Emily Nelson.
 
For the remainder of first half, Concordia would have multiple opportunities to score but could not beat Winona's keeper, Rachel Oleson.
 
Jordan Rowan-Stafford had two great opportunities to get the Golden Bears on board but her first attempt sailed just wide of the net and her second attempt sailed over the crossbar. She would finish the first half with a team leading four shot attempts.
 
After recognizing the six seniors at halftime, CSP came out of the intermission break with a great deal of intensity not wanting their season to end.
 
They outshot WSU 15-8 in the second half and at the 75th minute mark Jade Weller put a beautiful cross into the middle of the box where Kelli Heytens would head the ball into the back of the net for her first goal of the season, pulling the Golden Bears to within one.
 
Concordia would maintain the offensive pressure and nearly got a tying goal in the 78th minute when Erica Landry attempted a header but it was saved by Oleson.
 
In the 85th minute Meg Riebau would score Winona State's third goal of the game putting it out of reach for the Golden Bears to force overtime.
 
Chelsie Lindsay would score her fourth goal of the season in the 89th minute but with only 25 seconds remaining in the game it was too late for the Golden Bears to get the tying third goal and therefore ending their season to the Warriors, 3-2.
 
CSP would end up outshooting WSU 23-16 for the match and leading the way was Rowan-Stafford who attempted a game-high five shots, Katri Gifford added four shots, Jade Weller fired three shots, while Erica Landry, Brooke Salo and Colette Piche all attempted two shots for the Golden Bears.
 
For Winona State, Abby Bohanski led the way with four shots, while Darian Molter added three shots, and Courtney Wiencek, Meg Riebau and Alyssa Reynolds all attempted a pair of shots for the Warriors.
 
Rachel Oleson took the win in net for WSU and making five saves, while Emily Nelson took the loss for CSP but also made five saves on the afternoon.
 
The Golden Bears finished the 2016 season with a 5-9-4 overall record while finishing 5-6-4 in conference play.