Concordia's Jessica Ramback put in the game winner for the Cavaliers in the 70th minute.
Cavaliers Stop Simon Fraser in Top-10 Tilt
BURNABY, B.C.–With four spaces separating the two teams in the NAIA rankings, No. 4 Concordia University edged No. 9 Simon Fraser by one score with a 2-1 in women’ soccer action On Saturday.
With the win the Cavaliers improve to 11-0-1, while the loss drops SFU to 8-3 on the year.
Concordia held the Clan to a single shot in the first period while taking only four of their own to enter intermission in a scoreless affair.
“We have a tremendous amount of respect for Simon Fraser. Shelley () always has her team very organized and playing in Burnaby is always a challenge,” Concordia head coach Grant Landy said.
The Cavs would match their shot total in the second period but would convert on two of the attempts as a pair of set pieces translated into goals for the road team.
In the 58th minute, a Caitlin Verhofstadt corner kick played into the 18-yard box allowed Kaitlyn Tebbs to send the ball into the back of the net to give Concordia the 1-0 advantage.
In the 69th minute, Jackie Pronovost delivered a free kick into the box, where Jessica Ramback was able to head the ball towards the near post and past Simon Fraser goalkeeper Cassie Newbrook.
“We capitalized on a corner and free kick and in the good games those are going to be your best opportunities,” Landy said. “I thought in the second period we really stepped up. The girls paid attention to what we talked about at the half and I think that led to us creating chances.”
Despite outshooting the Cavaliers 9-to-4 in the second session, SFU would not post a goal until the 90th minute as Sarah Boulton struck a shot past Concordia keeper Georgie Christensen after an Ari Adams assist with 46 seconds left in regulation.
Christensen made three saves to earn the victory for the Cavaliers, while Newbrook made three saves in her third loss of the season.
“This was a perfect game for us at this point in the year as it sets a barometer about where this team is,” Landy said. “Our job now is to continue with the momentum and play to our standard the final five conference games to get into the playoffs.”
Concordia returns to action on Oct. 17 when it hosts Oregon Tech to resume Cascade Collegiate Conference action. Opening kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation Complex in Beaverton, Ore.