Late-Half Magic
Concordia scored a goal in the final five minutes of each half and beat St. Olaf 2-0.
STORY LINE: Concordia scored a goal in the final five minutes of each half and beat St. Olaf 2-0. Aronah Mukhtar drew a penalty kick call and then converted the spot kick in the final minute of the opening period and then freshman Nate Weaver netted a breakaway goal at 85:11 to finish off the win.
RECORDS: The win is the first conference victory of the year for the Cobbers. Concordia has now won two of their last three games and is 5-8 overall. St. Olaf loses for the seventh straight game and is 3-10 in all games and 2-6 in the MIAC.
ARONAH IS ALL RIGHT: Aronah Mukhtar's penalty kick at the 44:44 mark of the first half proved to be the decisive play in the game. Mukhtar was played in behind the St. Olaf defense on a long ball from the Cobber back line. He was able to get behind the Ole defense in the penalty area and then slowed up to control the bouncing ball. As he slowed down the Ole defender ran into his back and knocked Mukhtar to the turf to draw the penalty kick call. He then hammered home the ensuing penalty kick to post his fifth goal of the season.
Mukhtar's five goals on the year are one shy of his career-high total of six from last season.
I'LL CALL YOUR FIFTH GOAL OF THE YEAR: Nate Weaver earned his fifth goal of the season when junior midfielder Noah Gjesdahl threaded a pass between the Ole defense which allowed Weaver to run on to the ball from 35 yards away from goal. Weaver then beat one final defender and slotted the ball in the lower left corner of the net.
Weaver's goal at 85:11 ended a nine-game scoreless drought. Weaver started the year with four goals in the first three games of the season.
TWO IS THE MAGIC NUMBER: Concordia is now 5-0 when they score at least two goals in a game. The Cobbers also outscored their goal total in their previous six conference games. CC entered Saturday having netted one goal in six games.
SHUTOUT STUFF: The shutout is the second of the year for Concordia and their first in conference play since they blanked Carleton in the middle of the 2017 campaign.
STAT SHOUTOUTS: Concordia was outshot 12-5 in total shots in a game that was played between the penalty areas. St. Olaf also held a 5-3 edge in shots on goal and a 7-3 margin in corner kicks. Mukhtar led Concordia with a pair of shots. Goalie Jackson Carr made five saves to pick up his second shutout of the year.
UP NEXT: Concordia will have little time to celebrate their conference win as they will host St. John's in a non-conference game on Sunday, Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. The game will be played at Fargo Shanley HS.