ST. PAUL, Minn. – A second half goal from senior
Jordan Rowan-Stafford gave the Concordia-St. Paul soccer team (4-0, 1-0 NSIC) the final push they needed to defeat Upper Iowa (1-4, 0-2 NSIC) 2-1 in the team's home and conference opener at Sea Foam Stadium on Friday night.
The Golden Bears are now 4-0 on the year, which is their best start since the 2001 season, when Concordia went on to win their first seven games. It also marks the best start in head coach
Steve Bellis' eight years at CSP.
With the win, the Bears even up their all-time series history with the Peacocks at 8-8, taking three wins in their last four matchups with Upper Iowa. This game was the 11
th one in the series that was decided by a goal and the sixth that finished with a 2-1 score.
Concordia got on the board early when senior
Brooke Salo headed in a goal from a
Mary Kaiser corner kick in the sixth minute of play. This was Salo's second goal of the season (sixth career) and Kaiser's first assist (third career).
The Bears' offense was overall a big threat in the first ten minutes of the game, taking four corner kicks and two shots. But, the Peacocks battled back, taking three shots and two corners of their own in the next seven minutes. The possession then went back-and-forth for a while until Upper Iowa's Katie Samuels put away a free kick from about 15 yards out in the 34
th minute to tie the game at one apiece. Neither team was able to get a shot off for the remainder of the half, and the Bears headed into the break even with the Peacocks.
In the second half, the Bears stepped up their offense, holding an 8-4 advantage in shots throughout the final 45 minutes. In the 60
th minute Rowan-Stafford gave CSP the lead, taking a pass from
Leah Johnson, dribbling around a defender and burying it in the top left of the net. This was Rowan-Stafford's second goal of the year, but first game-winner. Johnson tallied her second assist of the year on the play.
With the goal, Rowan-Stafford moves up another spot in the CSP record book, now sitting with the seventh-most career points (38) and tied for the ninth-most career goals (13).
After the goal to put the Bears ahead, the defense held strong, only allowing the Peacocks to take three shots in the final thirty minutes.
Jordyn Clark earned the win in goal, making five saves throughout the game. The junior is now 3-0 on the year.
Rowan-Stafford lead the offensive charge taking five total shots on the day. Five other Golden Bears chipped in with shots, including two from both
Jade Weller and
Jena Berkland. On the game, Concordia held a 12-9 margin in shots and 7-6 edge in shots on goal.
The Bears will continue their homestand on Sunday, September 16
th, taking on Winona State at 1 p.m. If you are unable to make it to Sea Foam Stadium, follow along as the Bears look to stay undefeated using the links on the schedule page.
