Concordia Men Win CCC Title with 2-1 Victory at College of Idaho
CALDWELL, Idaho - Tyler Camp assisted on a pair of goals, including the game-winner in the 70th minute, as Concordia University advanced to their third NAIA National Tournament in the last four seasons with a 2-1 victory over The College of Idaho in the Cascade Conference Tournament title game at Vallivue High.
The win for the Cavaliers (14-5-1), the CCC North Division champs, gives the Portland school the league's automatic berth to the national championships - the first year that the CCC has had a bid allotted.
CU got on the board first inside the final ten minutes of the first half, as Camp crossed a ball to the right corner of the six-yard box, where Jon Larsen one-timed the ball into the net.
The Coyotes (14-3-1), who had a school-record 13-match win streak snapped, nearly tied it in the 54th minute, as CCC leading scorer Antonio Bautista maneuvered around keeper Garrett Staples, but his shot into the open net missed high. The hosts would tie the match two minutes later, as Kazuki Murata laced a long through-ball to Sasha Schachowskoj, who beat Staples to the near post to knot the score at 1-1.
Joey Graham nearly put the Cavs ahead in the 64th minute, chipping a shot from the right side over C of I keeper Aaron Reynolds, but defender Scott Thompson cleared the ball of the goal line. However, six minutes later, Camp placed a perfect corner kick into the middle of the six-yard box, where Grant Bateman flicked home the winner for CU.
The C of I pushed all ten men forward in the final 15 minutes, with Spencer Ward having the best look to tie the score in the 79th minute, but his blast from the top of the 18 went high.
Concordia held a 15-9 edge in shots, including a 7-3 edge in shots on goal.