Business As Usual In Conference Opener
It was business as usual for the Cobbers in their conference opener against St. Scholastica. Kara Ellis and Reese Christ continued their recent torrid scoring pace and the defense remained airtight as Concordia blanked the Saints 2-0.
MOORHEAD, Minn. (9/18/24)---It was business as usual for the Cobbers in their conference opener against St. Scholastica.
Kara Ellis and Reese Christ continued their recent torrid scoring pace and the defense remained airtight as Concordia blanked the Saints 2-0.
Ellis and Christ both scored from corner kicks in the first half and the Cobber backline made sure that would be all the goals the team needed in recording the fourth straight victory.
Concordia is now 5-1-0 on the season while St. Scholastica continues to search for its first victory of the year.
Both goals were scored from inside the 6-yard box as the Cobbers took advantage of the Saint's inability to clear the ball from the corner kick.
Ellis scored the eventual game-winning goal when she pushed home the rebound after Emily Larsen served the ball from the corner and Darby Hannan played the ball on goal.
The strike at 14:24 was Ellis' team-leading third goal of the year and third in the last four games.
Christ would match Ellis' season goal total in the final minute of the first half. Larsen once again served the ball from the corner kick and the ball eventually got played back to her after a clearing attempt from St. Scholastica. Larsen served the ball into the 6-yard box where Christ was standing unguarded and she was able to tap home the bunny.
Like Ellis, the goal was Christ's third in the last four games and she now has three goals on the season as well.
Larsen had two assists in the game and has posted four helpers in the team's last three games. Her four assists are the most of any player in the MIAC this year.
Concordia held the better of the possession in the second half and the Cobber defense held the Saints without a shot in the final 45 minutes of play.
Concordia had a 10-3 lead in total shots and a 6-2 edge in shots on goal for the game.
Ellis led all players with three total shots and two on frame.
Kaitlin Petrich was called upon to make two saves with the biggest coming in the first half when she dove to stop a shot from a header off of a free kick in the 38th minute of play.
The shutout was Petrich's fourth of the season which is tied for the most in the MIAC this season. She also lowered her season goals against average to 0.51. That mark is second in the conference this year.
Concordia will put its win streak on the line when they play at Carleton on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 1 p.m.
