Cavs make return to Orange Beach after 3-0 win in Opening Round
PORTLAND, Ore. – Sophomore
Bobbi Eckler (Vancouver, Wash./Union H.S.) scored one goal and assisted on another, leading the Concordia University women's soccer team to a 3-0 win over Menlo College in the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Opening Round Saturday afternoon at Tuominen Yard.
With the win, No. 4-seeded Concordia (17-1-2) took the first step towards defending its 2013 national championship and advanced to the final site of the tournament in Orange Beach, Ala. Menlo (12-7-2), making its first appearance in the NAIA championships, stayed within a goal of the host Cavaliers for more than two thirds of the contest, before falling by the three-goal margin.
Ashley Ames (Liberty Lake, Wash./Gonzaga Prep) got the Cavs off to a great start in the 11th minute when she beat her defender to an Eckler pass at the top of the box and fired a shot left from eight yards out that sailed past Menlo goalkeeper Jasmine Cordova. The rest of the half was marred by turnovers on both sides, and Concordia led 1-0 at the break on Ames' sixth goal of the year.
Menlo's hopes for an upset were extinguished in the 63rd minute, after
Shannon McMahon (Lake Forest Park, Wash./Bishop Blanchet H.S.) blasted a free kick into the upper right corner of the net from 23 yards out. Less than 10 minutes later, Concordia struck again as Eckler gathered a throw in from
Emily Ponce (Camas, Wash./Camas H.S.), spun right and crossed the ball low to the far post before Cordova could react. The 3-0 lead held for the rest of regulation.
The Cavaliers looked every bit the seasoned veterans they are, dominating in total shots (15-9), shots on goal (8-4) and corner kick attempts (6-2). The Oaks played well in the second half, but could not muster a single shot in the first thanks to the sharp and formidable Concordia defense.
"I told the team as the season goes on we would have to get better at finishing," CU head coach
Grant Landy said. "We averaged 26 shots per game during the season and we just aren't going to get that in the postseason. We created some dangerous chances today and really opened things up in the second half."
The win improved Concordia to 29-11-3 all-time in the NAIA tournament, as well as 7-0 at home in opening-round matches. It was also the Cavaliers' fourth straight shutout in such games.
"The seniors played well today," Landy said. "Getting them back to nationals and having a chance to go on another run with this group is a special opportunity."
Concordia will next play Cal State San Marcos on Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m. (CST) in Orange Beach, Alabama. The Cougars upset No. 13-seeded Vanguard University Saturday afternoon, advancing on penalty kicks.
"We have to have a good week of training before we head out because once you are at the final site you are limited in your practice time," Landy said. "The next three days are really important."
Concordia and CSU San Marcos last played in a 2012 with the Cavs earning a 1-0 win in the NAIA Championships Opening Round. Ames, then a sophomore, scored the game-winner in the 102nd minute in Portland.