ST. PAUL, Minn. - Concordia-St. Paul soccer (7-5-4, 6-3-2 NSIC) picked up a 2-1 win on senior night over the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs (2-7-7, 2-7-4 NSIC) on Friday at Sea Foam Stadium.
 
Senior Nikki Anderson led the Golden Bears to victory by notching a pair of goals in her final regular season home match at Sea Foam Stadium. Katie Anderson and Sammy Ponsonby were each credited with assists on the goals.
 
Senior defenders Harper Smoot and Tori Miller helped anchor the Golden Bears' defense by playing the full 90 minutes and securing a second-half shutout.
 
It was a good second-half performance after we were a little inconsistent in the first half, which was surprising and I think the senior night celebration got a little ahead of us," Coach Steve Bellis commented.
 
"In the second half, we really turned it on and created plenty of chances and were able to get the win," Bellis concluded.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Golden Bears held a slight edge in shots in the first half by outshooting the Mustangs 10-to-7. They also controlled the possession time with a 56-to-44 advantage.
 
In the sixth minute of the match, K. Anderson added the game's first shot which was blocked by an SMSU defender. Seconds later, Senior Jessica Timpane added the first shot on goal in the match that was brought in by the Mustangs keeper.
 
The Mustangs were able to secure the first goal in the match in the 11th minute after Alex Lotts found the net off a header with the assists coming from Abbey Hoisington and Emily Maciel.
 
CSP found an equalizer in the 33^rd minute after N. Anderson was able to find a cross from K. Anderson in the goalie box that coasted into the net off a right-footed shot.
 
Pawlyshyn and K. Anderson nearly broke the gridlock in the 35^th minute with back-to-back shots on goal. However, the Mustangs' keeper was able to collect the shots on the opposite side of the goal.
 
The offensive action continued to pick up for both teams in the second half, as the Golden Bears fired off 15 shots, while the Mustangs added nine of their own.
 
The first shot on goal in the second half came five minutes into the second half by K. Anderson, but the Mustangs' keeper was able to save the shot in the upper right corner of the goal.
 
N. Anderson had the first of her two shots that deflected off the crossbar with a headed attempt in the 61^st minute. The second chance was in the 83^rd minute after a free kick shot attempt deflected off the crossbar and nearly rolled into the goal.
 
In the 79^th minute, the Golden Bears found the game-winning goal after a right-footed shot from N. Anderson off an assist from Ponsonby found the bottom left corner of the goal.
 
Jessi Jordan would collect a pair of saves and the last shot attempts by SMSU in the 81^st and 85^th minutes, as the Golden Bears would hold on for the win.
 
PLAYERS OF NOTE
●     N. Anderson finished the game with seven shots (three on goal) and both Golden Bears' goals in the match. She moved into ninth in points with 37 and moved into a tie for sixth all-time in CSP history with 17 career goals
●     K. Anderson finished the match with six shots (two on goal) and an assist
●     Ponsonby added a point in the match with an assist
●     Timpane had three shots in the match (one on goal)
●     Jordan (1-0-1) collected six saves in her second start in goal this season for the Golden Bears
 
UP NEXT
The Golden Bears conclude the week with a road contest against the Sioux Falls Cougars on Sunday at 1 p.m at The USF Soccer Field.