Cavs Stymie Simon Fraser
PORTLAND, Ore. –With shots at a premium, the No. 6-ranked Concordia University women’s soccer team made the most of almost every opportunity in the second period en route to a 3-0 win against No. 14 Simon Fraser University in a home match at The Yard.
With zeros on the scoreboard after the first 45 minutes of play, it took Justine Pronovost (Milwaukie, Ore.) only 41 seconds in the second stanza to break the tie with an 18-yard shot over Clan keeper Cassie Newbrook.
Jessica Ramback (Mill Creek, Wash.) added to her conference-leading goal total with her 13th score of the season after outjumping the Clan defense for a header on a corner kick by Caitlin Verhofstadt in the 79th minute.
Inside of the final five minutes of regulation, Pronovost would record her eighth goal of the year on a 12-yard strike after receiving the ball from Kaitlyn Tebbs via Danielle MacBride.
“We didn’t play our best soccer in the first period,” Concordia head coach Grant Landy said. “It was important to regroup at the half. I challenged them to make more of a statement on the field and they responded.”
Returning to the field after resting for two games, Pronovost took six of the team’s eight shots, three of which resulted in near goals in the first period.
Both teams took eight total shots while Simon Fraser held a 5-2 advantage on corner kicks. Leah Flores (Vancouver, Wash.) played aggressively in goal for the Cavaliers, stopping three shots and stuffing several other attacks for her seventh straight shutout, lowering her season goals against average to 0.33 goals per game.
Concordia will next face Southern Oregon in a Cascade Collegiate Conference road match on Oct. 5. The following day the Cavaliers will travel to Oregon Tech. Both games are slated to start at 2 p.m.
“I feel that the team is just starting to click,” Pronovost said. “We have a lot of newcomers, so hopefully we will continue to make that progress as we finish up the conference season.”
Concordia will finish its regular season with three home matches, beginning with Albertson College on Oct. 12.
“I think the danger coming off an emotional game is to lower your guard,” Landy said. “We have five conference games left that includes a tough trip. We will want to keep our foot on the gas pedal.”