SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Golden Bears soccer team (5-1-1, 3-0-1 NSIC) defeated the Sioux Falls Cougars (3-4-1, 2-2-1 NSIC) to remain unbeaten in NSIC play this season. This is the best overall start for the Bears since the 2001 season, where they started 7-0.
After the match, head coach
Steve Bellis reflected on the two conference wins this weekend, saying "The team showed a lot of character over the weekend. They had to grind out 2 wins and it was a great team effort. We created a lot of chances and feel like we deserve the six points."
Concordia is now 7-1 against Sioux Falls since starting to play them in 2000. Last year, the score also was 1-0 but in favor of the Cougars as they scored off a deflection in the 38
th minute. In this year's rematch, the Bears came out on top of the 1-0 score with a goal from sophomore
Leah Johnson.
The Bears started out strong right out of the gate, taking four shots within the first five minutes, three of which were on goal. One of the shots was a header by forward
Brooke Salo off a corner kick, but it was kicked out by a Sioux Falls defender before it could go in. Another close offensive chance came with 15 minutes left in the half when freshman
Kiara Myers got a shot past the Cougars goalie but it hit the left post and the Cougars defense had a chance to recover. The offensive pressure continued all half, with the Bears outshooting the Cougars 10-2 entering the halftime break with a 0-0 tie.
Starting the second half, the Golden Bears continued their offensive pressure and created more close chances. About half way through the half, senior captain
Kelli Heytens made a nice cross after a free kick pass from fellow captain
Jade Weller but it went just long before CSP could get a touch on it.
The game-winning goal happened in the 69
th minute when the ball was loose right in front of the Sioux Falls net and
Leah Johnson headed it in after teammate
Jordan Rowan-Stafford got a touch on it. This was Johnson's second goal of the year. Rowan-Stafford tallied her third assist of the season on the play and is pacing the Golden Bear offense with seven points.
The Bears defense also had a great showing, only allowing three shots all game on their way to their third shut-out of the year. Sophomore goalkeeper
Emily Nelson recorded two saves on the day, one of which was an impressive diving save in the second half, to get her second win of the season and fifth career shut-out.
Concordia does not have long to celebrate their five game unbeaten streak, as they take on #14 Minnesota State on Wednesday, September 27
th. The Bears also play Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston this week. CSP travels to Minnesota State but is at home against both Bemidji and Crookston. Make sure to follow along with all the soccer action this week at cspbears.com/watch.
