Concordia Advances to National Quarterfinals with 1-0 Win
BOX SCORE - Concordia vs. Cumberland
ORANGE BEACH, Ala.—Using a stifling defense which allowed just a single shot on goal, the Concordia women’s soccer team advanced to the NAIA National Championship quarterfinals with a 1-0 win over Cumberland University (Tenn.) on Tuesday.
Concordia (17-2-2) will move on to the ‘Elite Eight’ of the national tournament for the ninth time in the last eight years. In the quarterfinals, Concordia will face four0time defending national champions and the tournament’s top seed from Lee University (Tenn.).
Opening kickoff is set for 4 p.m. (CST) at the Orange Beach Sports Complex. Lee University advanced to face Concordia after posting a 2-0 win over No. 16-seeded Northwood University (Fla.) on Monday.
Concordia and Lee have met on three occasions in the national tournament with the Lady Flames defeating the Cavaliers in the title match in 2008 and 2011 by 3-0 scores while downing Concordia in the semifinals by a 1-0 margin in 2009.
This season, the two clubs have combined to hold the No. 1 ranking in the NAIA coaches’ poll in all 12 releases with both teams earning the top nod six occasions. Lee was voted the top team the first two weeks and the final four weeks following a six-week run at the top by Concordia.
“Lee has great attacking players and they run their system extremely well,” Landy said. “We came down here to Orange Beach and played back-to-back games against a couple of good teams in mid-September and knew this was coming. All we can do is fight and claw for 90 minutes.”
Concordia combined a 23rd-minute goal by senior midfielder Kaylynn Winwood with its stout defense to post the 1-0 win over Cumberland to register the win in the second round of play on Tuesday afternoon.
Freshman McKayla Madison provided the assist with a long cross to Winwood, who delivered a first-touch strike to the near post what would go on to be declared the game-winning goal.
“The beginning of the game wasn’t our best, but I felt we finally pieced some nice things together in the middle of the first half,” CU head coach Grant Landy said. “We got a great service by McKayla (Madison) and Kaylynn made a good decision on her quick touch. Their goalkeeper was very athletic and it was going to take a special finish.”
The Cavaliers fired 13 attempts in both halves of play, including 15 of which were on frame, but were denied an additional score by Cumberland keeper Lindsay Kitson. Kitson, missing two of her starting defenders due to injury, tallied a season-high 14 saves to hold the Cavs to a single goal.
Meanwhile, the Concordia defense held the Bulldogs to just three total shots and without a goal for just the second time this season. Cumberland entered the match as the NAIA national leader with 91 goals scored this season. Freshman forward Kelsey Langile, the national leader with 37 goals scored, was held to a single shot attempt.
For the CU defense, ranked third in the NAIA in goals against average, recorded its 13th shutout of the season with the winning effort.
“We try to play good competition throughout the season which allows that back line to see a lot of good attackers,” Landy said. “They showed their experience and composure today.”
The Bulldogs ended their season with a 19-3-0 overall record after making their first-ever appearance in the national tournament.