Cobbers Can't Overcome Wind-Aided, Offensive First Half
Concordia and St. Scholastica scored six goals in the first half in a game that was dominated by the 20 mph wind.
MOORHEAD, Minn. (9/18/21)---Fans of offensive soccer got their money's worth in the first half of the Cobbers' game with St. Scholastica. The teams combined for six goals and 13 shots in the opening period of play on Saturday.
Concordia got off to their best start of the year, scoring two goals in the first 10 minutes of play. Unfortunately for CC, the 20 mph took control of the final 35 minutes, gave the Saints the advantage and allowed them to score four consecutive goals.
The teams would trade scores in the second half and CC would finish the game on the wrong end of the 5-3 score line.
Senior Nate Weaver netted two of the Cobbers' three goals in the game, while Tyson Aberle and Telvin Vah had a pair of assists each.
Concordia started the first-half scoring spree in the ninth minute of play. CC won a throw-in deep in the Saints' end on the left wing. Vah got control of the ball and sent a service to the middle of the goal area. Aberle was able to get a flick on the ball with his foot and send it to TJ Seidel at the top of the 6-yard box. Seidel had the ball get played behind him. With his back to the goal, he quickly turned and shot at the same time which sent the ball past the defender and by the goalie. The strike at 8:27 was Seidel's second of the season.
Weaver doubled Concordia's lead 1:24 later when he ran on to a cross from Aberle. Defender Nigaba Olivier received a pass from Vah on the top of the penalty area on the right wing. Nigaba took a couple of dribbles and then delivered a perfect pass that split a pair of defenders and found Aberle on the right wing. Aberle 1-timed a serve that found a wide-open Weaver on the back post.
The helper for Aberle was his third of the year which is tied for the top mark on the Cobbers.
The final 30 minutes of the opening half allowed Scholastica to take advantage of the wind and score four times. They cut the CC lead to 2-1 with a penalty kick at 11:53 when one of the Cobber defenders was whistled for a hand ball inside the penalty area.
The Saints tied the game at 22:38 and then took the lead at 27:47. Scholastica pushed the lead to two goals in the final minute of the half when an attacker got the ball up in the wind and it sailed just under the crossbar from 50 yards out.
Concordia used the wind to their advantage in the second half to dominate offensive zone time but couldn't come up with a goal until the final 10 minutes of play. Weaver once again got on the end of a cross from the left side of the field.
Vah beat a pair of defenders to get to the end line and then served a cross to the near post where Weaver was able to beat his defender and slide the ball into the net.
Weaver's second of the game at 80:40 was his team-leading fifth of the year and 26th of his career. Both he and Vah have 11 points for the season.
The Saints would take advantage of Concordia pushing players into attack to try and get the equalizer when they scored on a counterattack at 86:26.
Concordia held an advantage in all three stat categories. CC outshot the Saints 17-8 in total shots, 9-6 in shots on goal and 6-0 in corner kicks.
Concordia split the goalkeeping duties between a pair of freshmen. Jensen Waltz got the start and played the first 45 minutes. Lucas Radzillo saw his first collegiate action as he came on after the break.
UP NEXT: Concordia will step outside the conference when they travel south to take on Viterbo (Wis.) on Tues., Sept. 21 at 4 p.m.
