Cavs Advance to Final Site 3-1 Win against Embry-Riddle in NAIA Opening Round
BOX SCORE
PORTLAND, Ore.—For just the second time in program history, the Concordia men's soccer team will play at the final site of the NAIA National Championship after the No. 16-seeded Cavaliers beat Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 3-1 in the NAIA Opening Round on Saturday.
With the win, Concordia advances to the final site of the NAIA National Championships in Montgomery, Ala. There, the Cavaliers will face top-seeded Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) in the second round after the Blue Raiders beat Point Park (Pa.) 7-2 in their own NAIA Opening Round match on Saturday. The Cavaliers' match against the Blue Raiders will begin at 4 p.m. CST on Monday, Nov. 26. A watch party for that match will be held on campus, though details of the event will be released on
gocugo.com next week.
Saturday's win was also the program's first ever in the NAIA national tournament since the team advanced to the second round the last time, in 2008, only after topping Concordia-Irvine 9-8 in penalty kicks.
Concordia (16-3-2) did not have to wait for penalty kicks this time as it controlled the match throughout. The Cavaliers outshot the Eagles 19-6 in the match, including a 10-1 advantage in shots in the first half alone.
"The boys worked throughout the match and gave themselves the better chances to win," said CU head coach Dan Birkey. "We had a strong mind-set in the first half with Jordan Green setting the tone for the side."
Green would be the one that finally netted a goal for the Cavs too, as he found room for a scored in the 24th minute to put the Cavs on top 1-0. Radcliffe McDougald sent Green the ball on the play as McDougald played a free kick into the box from 40 yards out. McDougald's ball found the 6-2 Green among a crowd on the far post where Green headed it back to the near post from five yards out.
Concordia followed Green's goal with a dominant 45-minute stretch that spanned both halves and saw the Cavs outshoot Embry-Riddle 9-3. The Eagles' goalkeeper Joan Sanmarti made several quality saves in the box though to keep his team within striking distance at 1-0.
"I thought we lowered the flame after halftime," said Birkey. "We had a long lull without a score, but our pursuit eventually paid off and the game opened up for us. Our pressure allowed for attacking interchanges between [Michael] Chamberlain, Septi [Danciu] and the middies."
One such interchange came in the 71st minute when Septi Danciu, the 2012 Cascade Collegiate Conference Player of the Year, scored for the Cavs this time after a long build up that started near the midline. That's where Jared Brace started the play on the left flank, sending a long pass up the field to Michael Chamberlain. Chamberlain then sent a quick touch to Danciu at the top of the 18-yard box where Danciu one-timed the ball to the far post.
The Cavaliers then padded its lead with a goal in the 80th minute, going up 3-0 with just over 10 minutes to go in the match. McDougald started the play for the Cavs again this time, sending a ball up the left flank to Gerrit Hamann, who quickly sent the ball back to Chamberlain in the middle of the field. Once with the ball, Chamberlain fired a quick shot from 18-yards out that found the net for the score.
Chamberlain's goal finally lit a fire under the Eagles, who finally broke through with a goal of their own in the 86th minute of the match.
The Eagles' goal came on a similar play to the Cavs' first score as Isaac Sanchez sent a long free kick to the middle of the box that Gage Palmer directed on frame with a quick header from 6 yards out.
The goal noticeably energized the Eagles, but by then the Cavaliers only had to melt 4:44 off the clock to secure the win.
"We needed to have energy and concentrate to close it out," said Birkey. "I think the boys did a good job tonight, played with pride, and now need to carry that forward. This has been an outstanding group to work with."
Overall, Concordia was one of only nine host teams to win their NAIA Opening Round matches as host teams went 9-4-3 on Saturday.
Finally, Concordia goalkeeper Scott Gross played all 90 minutes and made on save in goal for the Cavs, while Sanmarti played all 90 minutes and made six saves in goal for the Eagles.