FAYETTE, Iowa – After a 1-0 win over Missouri-St. Louis last Thursday to start the year, the Concordia-St. Paul soccer team earned a 3-0 shutout victory over Parkside on a Friday afternoon in Fayette, Iowa. In their sixth match up against the Rangers it was the Golden Bears who struck first early in the first half, scoring in the third and ninth minute of play. In the second half the Golden Bears got a late goal in the 83^rd minute to secure the 3-0 victory and to start the season 2-0. 
 
This marks the first time ever in team history that the Golden Bears have started the season with two shutout victories in a row. The 2-0 record marks the second year in a row that the Bears have won their first two games, and only the third time that it has happened in the program's Division II history. Last year's squad won five games in a row to start the season and finished with ten overall wins on the year.
 
It was senior LeahJohnson once again who scored first for the Golden Bears, finishing off a pass from Hannah Pedersen in the third minute of play to put CSP up 1-0 early. Johnson scored again six minutes later; this time unassisted in the ninth minute to put the Golden Bears up 2-0. It was Johnson's second and third goal of the season and her first two goal game in her college career. It was Hannah Pedersen's first assist of the season, and fourth of her career.
 
It was a back and forth half after Johnson's early goals. The Rangers ended up outshooting the Golden Bears In the first half 9-5. CSP and Parkside each had three shots on net. Concordia's senior goalkeeper Jordyn Clark faced one corner kick and stopped all three shots she saw in the first half. Lara Ferrari was the starting goalkeeper for Parkside, she recorded one save in the first half.
 
Late In the second half junior Kiara Myers, finished off a goal from sophomore Jena Berkland in the 83^rd minute of play. Myers scored her first goal of the season and the third of her career. Jena Berkland crossed the ball from the left side of the box and Myers was there to finish off the pass. Bartel who started the second half for the Rangers recorded four saves.
 
The Rangers kept pace with the Golden Bears in the second half as it was a shootout battle between the two teams.  Parkside outshot the Golden Bears in the second half 8-7. Concordia had five shots on net to the Rangers four. The Golden Bears defense showed their strength once again as they shutout the Rangers for the remainder of the game.
 
Goalkeeper Jodryn Clark, recorded her second shutout of the season and the seventh of her career. She tied a career best making six saves in the game, she faced two corner kicks and played all 90 minutes for the Golden Bear's earing the victory and is now 2-0 on the season. 
 
The Bears offense recorded 12 total shots during the game. Leah Johnson led the Golden Bears offense with two goals, four shots, with three shots on net. Hannah Pedersen, Anna Haub, Kiara Myers, Ailee Snapko, and Katie Anderson each got a shot on goal. Nikki Anderson and Jackie Ehlert also got a shot off during the game. 
 
Concordia's head coach Steve Bellis commented on his teams 3-0 shutout victory, "It was nice to get a very competitive game under our belt. At times we struggled to keep possession in a high paced game and had to fight hard to keep the shutout. In the second half we found our rhythm quicker, kept the ball better and probably deserved the win in the end. Offensively Leah Johnson was outstanding throughout the game. Em Boyer and Anna Haub were defensive rocks! Showing years of experience at this level. We've got a lot of work ahead of us, but we have a good basis to work from and things look bright at this stage in the long season." 
 
To finish out the non-conference portion of their season, the Bears will take on Davenport University on Sunday in Fayette, Iowa. The conference schedule opens up next weekend, with CSP traveling back to Fayette, Iowa to take on the Upper Iowa Peacocks on Friday, September 20^th and Winona State on Sunday, September 22nd.