Alicia Alarcon-Evans scored the game winner against No. 3-ranked LWC on Sunday.
Concordia Shuts Out Lindsey Wilson in Battle of NAIA Titans
BOX SCORE -
No. 2 Concordia vs. No. 3 Lindsey Wilson
PORTLAND, Ore.—Playing against its toughest opponent so far this season, the No. 2-ranked Concordia women’s soccer team dominated once again, this time beating No. 3 Lindsey Wilson 2-0 in the final match of the Cavalier Cup on Sunday.
Remarkably, Concordia (4-0-0) held the Blue Raiders (1-1-1) to just one shot in the match, while the Cavalier’s offense totaled 13 shots and eight corners.
“We had a good game plan that the players went out and executed,” CU head coach Grant Landy said. “I’m really happy with how our defenders have been playing. Lindsey Wilson has some quality players and that back line of Jenna (Peterson), Lauryn (Helmers), Becca (Long) and Indigo (Recker) really made things difficult out there. In addition, Sam Johnson has been coming in in spells and is really coming into her own.”
Sunday’s performance follows a string of solid defensive efforts at the start of the season for the Cavaliers, as the team has not allowed any of its first four opponents to total more than six shots in their match against them. Overall, Cavalier opponents have totaled only 15 shots so far this season for an average of 3.75 shots per match.
With the defense stifling the Blue Raiders’ attack on Sunday, Concordia got all the offense it needed in the 29th minute when freshman Alicia Alarcon-Evans connected for a goal off an assist from fellow-freshman McKayla Madison.
Madison created the opportunity for the Cavs as she received a ball deep on the right wing of the box and put up a shot of her own. Lindsay Wilson’s goalkeeper was able to block Madison’s shot, but she couldn’t control the ball, leaving an open net for the Cavaliers after the play drew the keeper way out to the right. Fortunately, Madison’s shot bounced right back to the freshman, who then found Alarcon-Evans charging in the middle of the box for the score.
The match had been pretty even to that point, but Alarcon-Evans’ goal shifted the momentum noticeably to Concordia’s side.
The goal was also Alarcon-Evans’ third score in her first four matches as a Cavalier. Alarcon-Evans did not score in the first match of the season, but has scored in every match since then. In addition, two of Alarcon-Evans’ three goals have come from Madison and both have been game-winners.
“Offensively, it’s been fun to see the older players holding the ball and making plays for our newcomers, who have really stepped up by getting important goals,” senior captain Kaylynn Winwood said.
The 1-0 lead still left the Cavs vulnerable for an equalizer, but an unassisted goal in the 57th minute from Ashley Ames gave Concordia breathing room at 2-0.
Ames built the play from out near the midline, taking the ball all the way up the left side and into the box. Once in the box, Ames drew out the Lindsey Wilson’s goalkeeper and then chipped a shot over the goalkeeper’s head from 15 yards out. The goalkeeper got a hand on the ball, but it wasn’t enough to push the shot over the crossbar and the ball spun back down and into the net.
Ames’ goal wrapped up an impressive weekend for the sophomore who before Sunday had recorded two assists in the Cavs’ 2-0 win over No. 12 Hastings on Friday.
Concordia kept up the attack after Ames’ goal too, but, more importantly, milked the remaining 33 minutes off the clock to secure the 2-0 win.
Landy had worried going into the match that his team could still be caught up in the emotions of the win on Friday, but the Cavs’ aggressive play in the match on Sunday answered that worry pretty quickly.
“Last weekend we didn’t do a good job of getting up for the second game,” Winwood. “Today, however, we did a good job of coming together and staying focused throughout the entire match."
The win kept the Cavaliers a perfect 4-0-0 at Tuominen Yard, while the team has still not allowed an opponent to score on them at their new facility.
In addition, Concordia’s Tori Talbutt picked up her third shutout of the season after playing all 90 minutes in goal for the Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers will return to Tuominen Yard for their next match when they face Concordia-Irvine at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7.
Friday’s match against Concordia-Irvine will also serve as a fundraiser for the Lutheran Malaria Initiative. CU goalkeeper Tori Talbutt has organized the fundraiser after she traveled with the Lutheran Malaria Initiative to Tanzania over the summer.