ST. PAUL, Minn. - Four different Golden Bears scored for the Concordia Golden Bear soccer team (1-0) as they won their season opener 4-2 against the Maryville Saints (0-1) on Friday night at Sea Foam Stadium. 

The Golden Bears picked up a season opener win for the first time since 2009.  The last time that the Golden Bears netted four goals was in a 4-0 victory against Upper Iowa on October 30^th, 2015. Scoring four goals at home was last done on September 13^th, 2015 in a 4-3 double overtime win over Viterbo.

The Bears offense came out ready to play, firing nine shots in the first half.  Junior Katri Gifford opened the scoring for the Bears in the 20^th minute with a hard cross from the left side of the field that was deflected into the net. Jordan Rowan-Stafford picked up the assist on the play. This was Gifford's fifth career goal.

The Maryville Saints answered back with a goal of their own eight minutes later as junior Kaley Ruff headed in a corner kick passed by teammate Allison Verville. The score would not be tied for long though, as junior captain Jade Weller capitalized on a free kick and blasted a shot from 40 yards over the goalie's head and into the back of the net, making the score 2-1 in favor of the Golden Bears.

The Bears' third goal of the night came from midfielder Mary Kaiser in the 42^nd minute. She took a pass from freshman Kiara Myers and lobbed a shot over the goalie from about 35 yards out. Myers earned her first career point on the play.  This was Kaiser's second career goal.

In the 45^th minute, right before the half ended, the Saints would add another goal to make the score 3-2. In the first half, the Bears had the shooting advantage, out-shooting the Saints by a margin of 9-4. 

The lone goal of the second half came in the 59^th minute as Rowan-Stafford took a pass from teammate Brooke Salo and cut through Saints' defenders before finishing it in the bottom left side of the net. Stafford's three points in tonight's game set a new career-high for points in a single game.

The Bears defense capped off a terrific second half by only allowing one shot by the Saints. CSP once again had the shot advantage over Maryville, 3-1, in the second half. Seven of the twelve total shots taken by the Bears tonight were shots on goal.

Sophomore goalie Emily Nelson was credited with the win, which is her 5^th career win in net for the Bears.

The Golden Bears play next on Sunday, September 3^rd against the Lindenwood Lions (MO). Game time is 2 p.m. at Sea Foam Stadium.  If you can't make it in person, follow along online at cspbears.com/watch.