ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The Concordia- St. Paul soccer team (1-0-2) closed out nonconference play with a 4-0 win over the Lakers of Roosevelt (0-2-2) on Sunday afternoon at Morris Field.
The win marked the Golden Bears' first of the season after opening the campaign with draws against Ferris State, 1-1, and Parkside, 0-0.
Sophia Haase highlighted the day for the Navy and Gold, scoring her second collegiate hat trick. The three goals marked her first goals of the season. She also tallied a season-high nine shots, with four coming on goal.
CSP dominated the game in all phases and categories, tallying 23 shots along with a 7-2 corner kick advantage.
In the first half, Concordia got the scoring started and never looked back.
Sophia Haase put the Golden Bears on the board in the fifth minute, finding the back of the net off an assist from
Sienna Latta. Haase added to the lead in the 16th minute before completing her hat trick just three minutes later, this time off another assist from Latta.
The Golden Bears held a 12-4 shot advantage in the first half, including a 9-2 advantage in shots on goal.
CSP continued its dominance in the second half, looking to close out nonconference play on a high note. The Golden Bears kept the pressure on Roosevelt, forcing the Lakers into an own goal in the 69th minute to extend the lead to 4-0.
The Golden Bears locked down defensively in the second half, outshooting the Lakers 11-6 while
Sydney Potter made three saves to complete the shutout.
The Golden Bears continued to control the match in the second half, keeping Roosevelt off the scoreboard to secure the 4-0 victory.
Sienna Latta notched a career-high two assists in today's match, surpassing her season total of one assist from last season.
Senior goalkeeper
Sydney Potter recorded five saves on the day, earning her 21st career shutout.
Six different Golden Bears recorded two or more shots in the match, led by
Sophia Haase with nine, while
Hannah Carroll,
Ashley Bennett,
Zoey Fuglsang,
Lexi Pettit and
Brooke Nelson each recorded two.
On the defensive side of the pitch,
Maddison Balashaitis,
Hannah Carroll and
Morgan Bilczewski led the team in minutes played while holding the Lakers to five shots on goal and two corner kicks.
Five freshmen made their Golden Bears debuts:
Samantha Wacker,
Sadie Mittelstaedt,
Taylor Hendrickson,
Mataya Smith and
Zoey Fuglsang.
The Golden Bears will open NSIC play at Sea Foam Stadium next weekend, hosting Northern State on Friday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. and Jamestown on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 1 p.m.
