PORTLAND, Ore. – Reigning Great Northwest Athletic Conference champion and No. 10 Concordia University was true to form on Saturday afternoon at Tuominen Yard, as the Cavaliers cruised past the visiting Montana State University Billings women's soccer team 4-0.
 
The Cavaliers remained unbeaten on the season at 6-0-1 overall, and are now 3-0 in conference play with the win. CU's smothering defense earned its fourth consecutive shutout, and the team has not allowed a goal in 405 consecutive minutes of play dating back to a 3-2 win over Notre Dame de Namur on Sept. 4.
 
Four different players scored for CU, which led 1-0 at halftime before adding three more goals over the final 45 minutes. MSUB was limited to six shots in the match, including one on target in its third straight defeat. The Yellowjackets fell to 3-4-1 with the loss and are now 0-3 in GNAC play.
 
"The team gave a lot and pushed hard to try to get something positive today, but again we are learning how well opposing teams execute in the GNAC," MSUB head coach Stephen Cavallo said. "Erinn made a big save for us early on, and we did a decent job connecting and possessing in the first half. We were disappointed to give up the corner-kick goal, but credit goes to them on that play. At 1-0 at halftime I thought we had an opportunity to get something positive from the game, but their second goal early in the second half really made it tough."
 
The one-sided match belonged to the Cavaliers from the start, as they kept the 'Jackets on their toes throughout with 19 total shots and six on target.
 
MSUB goalkeeper Erinn Harder had her first big save just five minutes into the match, sliding to kick away a close-range shot by Sydney VanSteenberge from inside the goal box after the 'Cavs intercepted a pass.
 
Concordia kept the pressure on early, as Megan Myers and Gabrielle Ewing each had decent looks towards goal that narrowly missed wide over the next 10 minutes of play. The first corner of the game conceded by MSUB proved to be a costly one, as Kasey Ames got her head on the cross by Quinn Williams and tucked it neatly into the far corner of the net in the 23rd minute.
 
Freshman Cassidy O'Dell had MSUB's first shot of the game, landing an attempt from outside the box on frame in the 29th minute but watching as CU goalkeeper Hailey Asato handled it with ease. O'Dell totaled two attempts in the match, tying Courteney Shovlin for the team lead in shooting. "Cassidy really created a lot individually for us today," Cavallo commented on the first-year forward.
 
The Cavaliers didn't waste any time doubling their lead after the halftime break, as VanSteenberge ripped home a shot from the top of the 18-yard box in the 48th minute. MSUB defender Amanda Hemmen made a goal-saving stop inside the box two minutes later, when she got her leg to a shot by Kyra Radcliffe that would have required a diving save by Harder.
 
Ewing stepped to the penalty spot in the 61st minute, after a foul inside the box by the Yellowjackets. A powerful right-footed shot into the right corner of the net made the score 3-0 and put the game out of reach.
 
A breakaway resulted in the fourth and final goal for CU in the 77th minute, when Mallory Flatebo earned goal-side position on her defender and confidently finished a low shot from just inside the 18-yard box.
 
Harder finished the day with a pair of saves for the 'Jackets, and senior Lili Delgadillo played the final 18 minutes between the posts.
 
"There are still positives to take from this game, but the first and last five minutes of halves have been a detriment to us," Cavallo said. "We need to get back to Billings and regroup and put all of our energy into getting a positive result against NNU."
 
THE BUZZ: O'Dell was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…MSUB is now 0-4-2 all-time against Concordia and is 0-3 in games played in Portland…in the six all-time matches between the teams, CU has out-scored MSUB 10-0…Amanda Grimshaw made her first start of the season and second of her career.
 
AHEAD: The Yellowjackets return home for a single GNAC game next week, as they host Northwest Nazarene University on Thursday at Yellowjacket Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., and live video and live statistics will be available online through the MSUB Stretch Internet portal here.

Date	Location	H/A/N	Result	Score
9-26-15	Billings, MT	H	T (2 OT)	0-0
10-22-15	Portland, OR	A	L (2 OT)	1-0
9-24-16	Billings, MT	H	T (2 OT)	0-0
9-21-17	Portland, OR	A	L	2-0
10-14-17	Billings, MT	H	L	3-0
9-22-18	Portland, OR	A	L	4-0