SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Concordia-St. Paul soccer team (6-4-1, 4-3-1 NSIC) was defeated by the Augustana Vikings (8-1-2, 7-0-1 NSIC) 5-2 on a gloomy Friday afternoon in Sioux Falls. The Golden Bears held the shot advantage, but Augustana capitalized on two penalty kicks and their other scoring chances to secure the victory.
 
"A really strange game in which we controlled large parts but failed to capitalize. The game had two PKs and ultimately a very clinical Augie side. We know we can go up a gear at home on Sunday," head coach Steve Bellis commented after the match.
 
CSP opened the half strong, holding possession and attacking first. Brooke Salo took the first shot of the game five minutes in, followed by a shot that hit the crossbar from Jordan Rowan-Stafford less than three minutes later. The scoring however, would start with the Vikings, when Rebekah Thoresen scored off a penalty kick in the 28^th minute. Augustana went on to score less than a minute later off a corner kick to make it 2-0 in their favor. The Bears were outshot in the half (7-4). As time in the first half dwindled down, CSP again had much of the possession but were unable to convert before the half ended.
 
Within the first five minutes of the second half the Vikings would score again as Reiley Klose finished off a pass from teammate Samantha Tymkowicz, making it 3-0. The Bears then went on to take the next six shots in a row, including a header from senior captain Kelli Heytens that went wide. Despite all these shots, the Vikings would get the next goal, making it 4-0.
 
The Bears bounced back, as they continued to put even more pressure on the Viking defense. Freshman Kiara Myers especially provided some offensive spark as she took six shots in under four minutes. She found the back of the net on her sixth shot as she finished a corner kick play in the 81^st minute after teammate Hannah Pederson took the corner kick and Shannon Wynne got the first touch on it. This was Myers' first collegiate goal and she is the 10^th Golden Bear to score so far this season. Wynne picked up her second assist of the season on the play.
 
Seven minutes later, Jade Weller would cut the Viking lead down to two, with a goal of her own. She took a pass from Leah Johnson and fired a shot from well outside the box that went over the opposing goalie's head. This was Weller's third goal of the year and Johnson's first assist. In the last minute of the game the Vikings were awarded another penalty kick and this time Kelly Partington put it away for Augustana, making the final score 5-2.
 
After a strong offensive second half, the Bears held the advantage in shots (18-14), outshooting the Vikings 14-7 in the second half. Myers led the offensive effort with six shots, three of which were on goal. Nine different players took shots for the Bears on the day, with five players taking more than one.
 
The Bears return to Sea Foam Stadium on Sunday, October 8th to take on Wayne State. The match will begin at 1 p.m. If you are unable to be there in person, make sure to follow along online at cspbears.com/watch.