Concordia Caps Perfect Conference Season vs. Cascade
PORTLAND, Ore.— With three goals in both periods, the Concordia University women’s soccer team defeated Cascade College 6-0 to finish the regular season with an unblemished conference record for the second straight year.
With the result, the Cavaliers jumped to 15-2-0 on the year and 10-0-0 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference to capture its eight straight conference title. With another shutout, Concordia concluded the season without allowing a goal in conference matches, increasing its string of CCC shutouts to 24 games. Cascade dropped to 8-6-3 with a 4-4-2 conference record.
“Most of the credit goes to the players as they have done an excellent job of taking each game at a time and not overlooking any opponent,” Concordia head coach Grant Landy said.
Stephanie Solarek (Port Orchard, Wash.) led the Cavs with two scores, including the game-winner in the 6th minute of play. Generating her first goal of the season, senior Erin Forge’t (Las Vegas, Nev.) hit Concordia’s second goal of the day with a 25-yard sweeping strike in the 36th minute that bent away from Thunderbird goalkeeper Valerie Perez.
A little more than two minutes later, Breeanne Barker (Longview, Wash.) fired a laser shot from 20 yards for the team’s third goal of the period, giving the Cavaliers a trio of goals on only seven shots.
“Cascade is a much improved team. They were organized and made it difficult for us to find space,” Landy said. “We just did a phenomenal job of finishing what chances we were given.”
In the second period, Caitlin Verhofstadt (Silverdale, Wash.) added to her conference leading assist total with two passes that led to scores. Verhofstadt played the ball for Solarek’s second score, a 77th-minute chip that trickled through the keepers raised hands and to Shea Miller’s (Azalea, Ore.) 12-yard launch in the 82nd minute.
In the 90th minute, Jessica Ramback (Mill Creek, Wash.) scored her 18th goal of the season with a10-yard shot during the final countdown. It was the sixth time this season Concordia had registered a goal in the final five minutes of play.
Leah Flores (Vancouver, Wash.) and Kali Smith (Gresham, Ore.) split time on goal for Concordia with Flores credited with the win to improve to 12-1-0 on the season. Perez tallied three saves for the Thunderbirds in the losing effort.
For the game, Concordia held a 21-1 advantage in shots and a 3-0 lead in corner kicks.
"I think the last two or three weeks we have become more of a unit,” Landy said. “With 10 new players it took a little longer for them to be on the same page, but I think we are a tough team right now with how we have connected.”