Rice's Heroics Not Enough In 4-2 Loss
Despite a pair of goals, and the dominating all-around play, from senior Jared Rice Concordia conceded a pair of goals in each half and lost 4-2 to St. Scholastica on Friday.
MOORHEAD, Minn. (9/07/12)—Despite a pair of goals, and the dominating all-around play, from senior Jared Rice Concordia conceded a pair of goals in each half and lost 4-2 to St. Scholastica on Friday. The Cobbers battled back to tie the game on a pair of occasions but the Saints were able to put the game away with two goals less than 18 minutes apart in the final half of play.
The loss snaps Concordia's two-game winning streak. CC is now 2-2-0 on the year. St. Scholastica wins for the second straight game and moves to 2-1-0.
"I thought Jared was the best player on the field today," commented head coach Ben Schneweis. "He was all over the park on offense and defense. He is playing at an unbelievably high level right now."
Concordia fell behind 1-0 in the 11th minute of play when they were unable to clear the ball on a corner kick. The ball was sent back into the penalty area and a completely unmarked Saints player was able to trap the ball, turn and then blast it into the upper part of the net from six yards out. Rice then tied the game nine minutes later when he picked off an errant pass 40 yards out from goal, turned a pair of defenders and then blasted a shot that caromed off the final defender's leg, past the goalie and into the net.
St. Scholastica responded less than three minutes later on a direct free kick from 20 yards out. Erik Trochimchuk's shot deflected off the end of the wall and "wrong footed" CC goalie Peter Runquist and rolled harmlessly into the far side of the net.
The game would remain at 2-1 until the second half. The Cobbers returned the "errant marking off of a corner" favor when Rice found himself all alone in front of goal and volleyed home a bouncing pass to tie the game in the 46th minute.
CSS was once again able to counter quickly. The Saints took the lead for good in the 52nd minute off of a corner and then added the insurance goal at the 69:20 mark.
Concordia held a slight 14-13 lead in overall shots. Both teams were able to get eight shots on frame. Scholastica owned a slim 6-5 advantage in corner kicks.
Cobber goalie Peter Runquist made four saves in the game as compared to six saves from Scholastica goalie Adam Hewitt.
Concordia will continue with their five-game home stand when they host Wartburg (Iowa) on Sunday, Sept. 9 at 3 p.m.