MANKATO, Minn. – For the first time in program history, the #20 Concordia-St. Paul soccer team (15-1-2, 12-1-2 NSIC) has won the NSIC conference after a 1-0 win over #13 Minnesota State (15-3, 12-3 NSIC). This was the first time ever that the Golden Bears have defeated Minnesota State while also recording their program record, 14th shutout of the season.
With being the NSIC regular season conference champions, Concordia secures home field advantage throughout the NSIC conference tournament. Also, the Golden Bears have a chance to host the first round of region play in the NCAA tournament.
CSP is now 1-18 all time vs Minnesota State and bounced back after losing 3-2 against Augustana last Sunday. The Golden Bears will face Wayne State in the first round of the conference tournament on Wednesday November 13th at Sea Foam Stadium. With their victory today, Augustana slides into second place sending Minnesota State down to third. Augie will play Southwest Minnesota State in the first round and Minnesota State will play UMary and Bemidji State and St. Cloud State will all battle it out to move onto the next round on Wednesday.
In the first half the Mavericks outshot CSP 5-2, but the Golden Bears edged them out with two shots on net to the Mavericks one. Minnesota State had a few chances with a shot by Brynn Desens that was saved by Jordyn Clark in the 15th minute of play. In the 18th minute Jenny Vetter missed the net wide left twice. Hannah Pedersen had an opportunity for the Golden Bears in the 9th minute when she tried to go low, but it was saved by Alexa Rabune. CSP had another opportunity in the 27th minute when Haleigh Bares tried to find the back of the net from deep outside the box but Alexa Rabune made the leaping save to keep it a scoreless game. Jordyn Clark made one save and faced five shots and two corner kicks in the first half. Alexa Rabune made two saves in 45 minutes of the first half.
The quality of play was a little more equal in the second half as each team had four shots with each putting two on net. In the 74th minute, Katie Anderson made a few moves outside of the box, found an open lane a took a rocket of a shot which found the top left corner of the net and over the glove of a leaping Rabune to put the Golden Bears up 1-0 in the game. This was Anderson's team leading eighth goal of the season. In the 79th minute Jenny Vetter tried to tie the game up for the Mavericks, but it was saved by Jordyn Clark. In the start of the 86th minute Minnesota State had three corner kicks in a row and had two scoring chances but the Golden Bears defense and a huge save by Jordyn Clark helped put the game away for the Golden Bears, sealing their first ever conference championship.
Jordyn Clark made three saves in this game earning her 11th shutout of the season (11.3) and her 15th win on the season. Alexa Rabune made three saves and took the loss in her 90 minutes of play.
Kiara Myers led the offense for the Golden Bears with two shots and one on the net. Haleigh Bares, Hannah Pedersen, Jena Berkland and Katie Anderson each had one shot in this game.
Head coach of the NSIC champions Golden Bears Steve Bellis commented on his teams' historic victory, "A fantastic season was encapsulated in today's result, the team battled hard and never backed down. We know we can keep this rolling. I'm super proud of the team and the staff for all of their hard work. Excellent times!"
Stayed tuned for more updates as the Golden Bears prepare the postseason play starting on Wednesday for the first round of the NSIC tournament.
