Concordia Falls in Quarterfinals to Defending Champions, 2-1
BOX SCORE - Concordia vs. Lee
ORANGE BEACH, Ala.—Scoring the game-winner with less than 12 minutes left in regulation, four-time defending NAIA National Champion Lee University (Tenn.) defeated Concordia 2-1 in the quarterfinal round of the national tournament on Wednesday.
Undefeated in its last 20 matches, Lee will move on to semifinals where they will face Olivet Nazarene (Ill.). Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and Spring Arbor (Mich.) will face each other in the opposite semifinal match to be played on Friday.
A rematch of the 2008 and 2011 national championship games, Lee’s Amy Cochran put the Lady Flames on the board in the 35th minute. After a foul in the corner of the 18-yard box by a Concordia defender, the Lady Flames were awarded a penalty kick by the center referee.
Held to just four shots in the first half, Cochran took advantage of the decision by placing her second goal of the season.
Despite being outscored by Lee 9-0 to that point with four previous meetings between the two clubs, Concordia continued its offensive effort with the majority of possession for large stretches of the second half. The Cavs finally broke through in the 56th minute as senior defender Jenna Peterson rocketed a shot from 28 yards out, over an array of players in the mixer and over the helpless keeper.
“I will never forget Jenna’s goal,” Landy said, “Under those circumstances, playing down a goal to a four-time national champion. That was unbelievable.”
With both teams managing just three attempts at the go-ahead score, Lee’s Ode Fulutudilu found the net after a cross from teammate Caroline Scales at the 78:56 mark. With Scales working her way to the backline to serve the cross, Fulutudilu placed the ball from perfectly for her 12th goal of the year and the eventual game-winner.
“It was an unbelievable effort by our team today,” CU head coach Grant Landy said, “I can’t say enough about how they embraced taking on a new tactical system and doing it without a day’s rest”
“When you get to the national tournament, you have to take some risks. The last four weeks we have had some really difficult games and those things helped prepare us for the battle. They did everything they could as a coach all you can ask for. It’s unfortunate we couldn’t head into the break even as I don’t don’t believe that should have warranted a PK.”
Advancing to the quarterfinals of the NAIA tournament for the ninth time in the last 10 years, Concordia finished the season at 17-3-2 on the season. The Cavs will graduate midfielder Kaylynn Winwood, defenders Lauryn Helmers, Indigo Recker and Peterson and goalkeepers Robyn Neimann and Tori Talbutt. In addition, Alex Thomas, an All-American forward last season that missed the year due to injury, is set to graduate this year.
“I think we proved tonight that we are a top two or three team in the nation,” Landy said. “We will take the defeat and learn from it for next year. For those that won’t be back, we have an amazing group. I told the team that, from top to bottom, I can’t think of a stringer group both academically and athletically while possessing a wealth of integrity.”