EUGENE, Ore. – The Northwest Christian University Beacons did on Friday night what eleven other opponents were unable to do, scoring on Concordia University, the No. 1 ranked team in the NAIA. The Cavs took the game by a 3-1 final, but it was a goal from senior Kori Wilgus that had the most impact.
Wilgus, a senior transfer from Lane CC and the NWAAC’s all-time leading scorer with 52 goals over two years, also broke through with her first goal of the season after posting 20 shots on goal over the first nine games. Wilgus said, “I’m really excited to finally get a goal. It will take the nerve and the edge off. All season I’ve been discouraged after games but [assistant] Coach Theo [Porter] always tells me my time will come. And it’s awesome that my time finally came as the first goal scored against Concordia.”
Northwest Christian played one of their most complete games of the season, staying right with Concordia for 90 minutes. The final shot tally might have been 28-2, NCU walks away with the closest result in the history of the series against the Cavaliers. Head Coach Katie Casebeer was pleased with how her team played. She said, “I’m happy that we decided to play them straight up and not do some weird formation where we packed the box like we’ve done in the past. I trusted the players and they trusted each other to get it done and it seemed to work out better for us than it ever has before.”
The Beacons held the Cavs scoreless for the first 41 minutes, but Concordia finally got on the board in the 42nd minute when Chelsea Malnes found Robyn Neimann in the middle of the box for a five-yard strike and the go-ahead score. Concordia took the 1-0 lead into halftime and it wasn’t until the 76th minute that they scored once more. A through ball landed at the feet of Kaylynn Winwood. She flicked the ball to Tahlia O’Loughlin who immediately flicked to a wide open Alex Thomas, burying a left-to-right shot across the net.
Then, with four minutes remaining Wilgus got the ball on a breakaway and with Concordia keeper Tori Talbutt drawn out, the senior hit a hard shot that was touched by Talbutt, but left uncovered. Wilgus found the ball a second time and with the net empty, tapped a shot past the keeper that trickled in for the score.
Concordia went on to add an insurance goal with eleven seconds remaining when Kaitlyn Tebbs sent a breakaway pass to Shelby Bloodworth who finished with an impressive low-percentage shot into the left side of the net from the right baseline.
The Cavaliers (11-0-1) went 1,096 minutes before giving up the first goal of the year. Talbutt will still lead the NAIA in Goals Against Average after Friday, now sitting at 0.08. NCU keeper Ali Foster had another strong night, collecting 12 saves during the 28-shot barrage from the Cavs.
Northwest Christian (2-7-1) will be back in action on Saturday evening, playing host to the Warner Pacific College Knights at 6:00 pm. NCU is tied 2-2 all-time against WPC with the Beacons claiming a 1-0 win in their only meeting last season.