MIAC-Leading Defense Helps Cobbers Blank Pipers
Concordia’s league-leading defense made an early-game goal stand up in a 1-0 win over Hamline.
MOORHEAD, Minn. (10/01/24)---Concordia's league-leading defense made an early-game goal stand up in a 1-0 win over Hamline.
The Cobbers got a goal from Kylee James in the first 10 minutes of the opening half, didn't allow the Pipers to get any quality chances from in close and came away with their sixth in the last seven games in a streak that goes back to the start of September.
The win pushes Concordia's overall record to 7-2. The Cobbers are now 3-1 in conference play and in third place in the MIAC standings. Hamline loses for only the second time in the last five games and is now 3-5-3 overall and 0-2-2 in league play.
Concordia stepped up the pressure from the opening whistle and was able to keep the play in the Hamline end of most of the first half.
The game-winning goal was scored in the 10th minute of play when Lucy Halverson picked off a square pass in the middle of play and passed the ball to James. James had a 1-on-1 situation with the last Hamline defender from 40 yards out from goal and proceeded to dribble at the lone defender. Instead of trying to get around the defender for a breakaway, James elected to pull up and take a shot from 22 yards out from goal. Her left-footed laser went over the top of the HU keeper and slide under the crossbar.
The goal at 9:35 was James' second of the season. Halverson collected her first assist of the year on the play.
Concordia would continue to have possession of the ball in the Piper end for the majority of the first half which led to a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks and gave CC several quality scoring chances during the first 45 minutes of play.
The second half was played at a more back-and-forth pace. The Cobbers were content to keep the Pipers from getting behind the defense and kept Hamline from getting any open shots inside the penalty area.
At the end of the game, Concordia held a 10-9 edge in total shots with both teams having six shots on goal.
Cobber keeper Kaitlin Petrich stopped all six shots she faced to record her fifth shutout of the season. Petrich has a 0.68 goals against average in nine game of play which is second in the conference.
Concordia will look to continue its early-October success when they host St. Mary's on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 1 p.m.