ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Concordia-St. Paul soccer team (5-0, 2-0 NSIC) started the NSIC season 2-0 with a 1-0 win over Winona State (1-3, 1-2 NSIC) on a warm Sunday afternoon at Sea Foam Stadium. The Golden Bears made it five straight, which is the best start in head coach Steve Bellis' eight years at Concordia.
 
The 5-0 start is the best record the Bears have had to start any season, except for the 2001 season when the team beat seven non-Division II teams to begin the year. Starting with two conference wins is also the best start to the NSIC season that the Bears have had since 2006 when CSP defeated Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State in their opening NSIC contests.
 
With the win, Concordia has now won in their last two matchups with the Warriors, as they defeated Winona State 1-0 last season on the road. This is the fourth win that the Bears have had over Winona State, as the all-time series now sits at 4-24-1.
 
The game was a close one, with CSP holding a slight edge in shots at 15-14 and both teams taking four shots on goal. It was senior Brooke Salo who broke the 0-0 tie in the 48^th minute when she took a pass from teammate Katri Gifford and buried the ball in the bottom right of the net.
 
Salo's goal was her third so far this season, but first game-winner. The Zimmerman native now leads the Golden Bears in goals and points on the year. It was her seventh goal and 21^st point of her career, and she has already surpassed her previous season-high in goals. Gifford recorded her second assist on the season, for her fourth in her career.
 
The Bears had some good opportunities in the first half, including a header shot by Salo that went just wide and three shots off a Mary Kaiser corner kick in the 23^rd minute. Jade Weller had a shot blocked and Gifford got off two shots, one which was blocked and the other which was saved. Weller also had a good opportunity on a free kick, but her shot missed just wide, and the Bears headed into the break with the score remaining 0-0.
 
The offense started strong in the second half, firing four shots within the first two minutes, with the fourth one being Salo's goal. The Warriors bounced back, creating some chances of their own, including a free kick and a header that both went high. The defense only allowed two shots on goal throughout the half, which was not enough for Winona State, as the Bears held on to win it 1-0.
 
Junior Jordyn Clark knocked away all four shots that came her way to earn the win. She is now 4-0 on the year, recording her first full shutout this season. This was the defense's third shutout, and they have only allowed two goals in their first five games.
 
The Golden Bears are on the road next weekend, taking on St. Cloud State on Friday and Minnesota Duluth on Sunday. Check back to the schedule page to find all the details for following the team on their first conference road games of the season.