PORTLAND, Ore. – Holding momentum from start-to-finish Thursday night under the lights at Tuominen Yard, the Concordia University women's soccer team handed visiting Montana State University Billings a 2-0 loss in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
The Cavaliers capitalized within 10 minutes on either side of the halftime break, grabbing a 1-0 advantage in the 37th minute and doubling the spread with another goal in the 50th minute.
CU improved to 4-2-1 overall with the win, and is now 1-0-1 in league play. The Yellowjackets meanwhile fell to 1-6 overall, and are still in search of their first GNAC win at 0-2 in conference action.
McKenna Stocker scored CU's first goal of the evening, after her shot deflected off MSUB's defense and into the net. Shelby VanSteenberge scored her third goal of the year just five minutes into the second half, gathering a pass from Kayla Braunthal and beating MSUB goalkeeper
Erinn Harder in a one-on-one situation.
Hallie Vervair had MSUB's first shot of the match with 25 minutes to play, but her long, left-footed attempt from outside the box curled right of the target.
Mackenzie Breeden followed with a promising look that landed on frame, but CU's Anna Miller made the save as MSUB's offense displayed signs of life.
It wound up being the only two shots of the game for the Yellowjackets, while CU finished with 20 including six on target. Harder stopped four shots among the constant attack coming her way, helping keep the 'Jackets in the match.
Defensively,
Kalin Sandow led all field players for MSUB with 84 minutes at center back. Senior
Jessica Spang also returned to the pitch for the first time since a pre-season injury, and turned in 46 minutes off the bench.
The Cavaliers held a slight 4-2 advantage in corner kicks, and the game was fairly even in terms of fouls with CU at eight and MSUB committing seven over the 90 minutes.
Miller finished with one save for the 'Cavs, completing her second shutout of the year and second consecutive shutout after a 0-0 draw last week against Central Washington. Defensively for CU, reigning GNAC Player of the Week Ana Delgadillo played a full 90 minutes, as did Katie Greene.
Braunthal led all players with five shots, and Brenda Uribe had four shots including one on target off the bench in 26 minutes.
THE BUZZ: Breeden was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…the 20 shots by CU were the most by an opponent this season…MSUB is now 0-2-2 all-time against Concordia…the Yellowjackets' losing streak reached four games.
COMING UP: MSUB heads south to face Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Ore., on Saturday. Kickoff between the Yellowjackets and Wolves is scheduled for 11 a.m. Pacific time.
