WAYNE, Neb. – For the second time in three games, the Concordia-St. Paul soccer team (10-4-3, 7-4-3 NSIC) scored within the final ten minutes of regulation time to earn a 1-0 win, this time defeating Wayne State (4-9-1, 4-11-1 NSIC) on the road.
With only one more regular season game remaining, the Golden Bears are now sitting in a tie for fifth with 24 points, sharing the spot with St. Cloud State. It remains a tight race for the playoffs, as UMary, Northern State, and Winona State all in striking distance of ending in the top eight. With a Concordia win on Sunday against Augustana and a loss from Minot State could lead to CSP ending in fourth in the NSIC, which would allow them to host a first round playoff game.
Concordia now owns a 13-8-2 all-time record against Wayne State and holds an 8-3-2 record when playing the Wildcats on the road. This was CSP's second straight win over WSC, winning 2-1 in overtime last season at home.
It took 83 minutes, but senior
Brooke Salo found the back of the net for the Bears, heading in a pass from junior
Jackie Ehlert. The defense took care of the rest, recording their tenth shutout of the season, as they continue to break the CSP school record for most shutouts in a season.
The Bears started off the game a little slow, being outshot in the first half 5-1, although only two of the Wildcats' five shots were on net. The Wayne State defense contained the Concordia offense, which averages 14.4 shots per game, for the first 43 minutes until junior
Hannah Pedersen took a shot that missed high. The two teams went into the halftime break with the score remaining 0-0.
To start the second half, CSP came out aggressive, taking three shots within the first seven minutes and outshooting the Wildcats 8-3 throughout the half. The Bears overall held a 5-3 edge in shots on goal throughout the game. Concordia started to dominate the possession in the later part of the second half and it finally paid off when Ehlert made a cross that was headed in by Salo.
Salo, the Zimmerman native, continues her breakout senior season with her fifth goal this year and her second game-winner. Both of those statistical marks are career-highs for Salo, who now has 11 points on the year. Ehlert picked up her second assist of the season on the play.
Emily Nelson earned the win in goal for the Bears, and she is now 5-2-1 on the year with six shutouts. Nelson added three saves during the game and continues to lead the NSIC in lowest goals allowed (0.34). With the shutout, the 5'4 junior added to her record of most shutouts in CSP history, now with 15.1 in her career.
To end the regular season, the Bears will return home to face off with Augustana on Sunday, October 28
th. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Sea Foam Stadium. Sunday's game will be senior day for Concordia, where they will recognize the team's eight seniors for their commitment and contribution to the Golden Bear soccer program.
