The first pitted the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the nation in Lee University (Tenn.) and Azusa Pacific University (Calif.). Azusa Pacific scored two quick goals to jump to a big lead, but had to hold on in the final seconds to close out a 2-1 victory. Afterwards, No. 3-ranked Concordia faced Trinity Western and the two played a tight match before a last-second Trinity Western goal put the cap on a 2-0 victory for the Spartans

 

Coming off the heartbreak of losing to Azusa Pacific on a golden goal on Thursday, Trinity Western shook the disappointment off and put in a pair of hard shots to defeat No. 3-ranked Concordia 2-0.

 

The Spartans got their first goal just before halftime in the 42nd minute. It came on a ball up the left side from fifth-year midfielder Melissa Mobilio to fourth-year forward Nikki Wright. Wright then took the ball and dribbled up the left side, drawing Concordia junior goalie Tori Talbutt towards her. She then shot the ball from ten yards out and found the net just inside the right post.

 

Trinity Western had a good chance for a goal earlier in the game off a corner kick in the 15th minute. Third-year midfield Caitlin Haines played the ball into the box and several players from both teams found nothing but each other and the ball bounced off a mass of players and out of bounds.

 

Concordia had plenty of scoring chances in the first half as well, putting up more shots than Trinity Western (12-to-8) including five shots on goal. However, none of them found a hole to pop through and the Cavaliers were left wanting.

 

Concordia continued the shot barrage in the second half with eight more in the final 45 minutes, but again couldn’t find the back of the net. Their best opportunity came in the 70th minute when sophomore forward Alex Blalock shot a ball that hit the crossbar. Senior forward Tahlia O’Loughlin got the rebound, shot it, but Trinity Western keeper Cara Santaga corralled the attempt.

 

Over the final twenty minutes Concordia put up three more shots before first-year Trinity Western forward Sarah-Kim Bergeron streaked up the right-hand side and put a ball in the left corner of the net from 15 yards out to score just five seconds before the final whistle. The last second goal extended the Spartans’ lead, masking what had been a close game throughout with a 2-0 final score.

 

The loss drops Concordia to 1-2, the first time the team has been under .500 since 2002 when the Cavs opened the season with two losses. That instance was also the last time CU had dropped two games in a row, a span of 214 matches over the past nine seasons.

 

Concordia did win many of the statistical battles, edging Trinity Western 20-to-17 in shots, 7-to-6 in shots on goal, and in corner kicks, 5-to-2. However, Trinity Western goalie Santaga topped Concordia goalie Talbutt with seven saves to Talbutt’s four.

 

Concordia next faces like-named Concordia University out of Irvine, Calif. next Saturday, September 3. Last year the Cavaliers beat the Eagles at home 5-0 to start the season.

 

In a rematch of last year’s NAIA national semifinals Azusa Pacific exacted revenge on Lee University, beating the three-time defending champions 2-1.

 

The Cougars got the scoring going early with a shot from five yards in the 8th minute after a cross from the right-hand side.

 

The Cougars then extended their lead just before halftime when Lee failed to clear a ball from in front of their net that freshman midfielder Shannon Hardy found and put it in off her head over Lee goalie Leah Wilson from point blank range.

 

Azusa had a good chance to extend the lead further before the half when freshman midfielder Kendra Trifonovitch fielded a corner kick and put up a shot to the right corner of the goal, but Lee goalie Wilson made a diving save to prevent Azusa from taking a 3-0 lead.

 

In the second half, Lee picked up their offensive attack, putting up seven shots as opposed to four in the first half. The Lady Flames did not find the net though until the 88th minute of the game when junior midfielder Kim Conrad put in a header to the right corner after a long cross from sophomore forward Ashley Aragona.

 

The Lady Flames managed another shot after that, but it sailed wide right and Azusa Pacific held them off the rest of the way to seal the victory.

 

Overall, the Cougars topped the Flames in most statistical categories, putting up 17 shots compared to 11 and nine shots on goal compared to five. Azusa also dominated corner kicks earning 10 compared to Lee’s single opportunity.

 

In goal, Azusa’s senior keeper Alexa Douglas picked up the win with four saves, while Lee’s Wilson saved seven shots in the losing effort.

 

Next up for Azusa Pacific will be Rocky Mountain University on Saturday, September 3, while Lee faces Oklahoma Baptist on September 2.