Cavs withstand Warriors in championship rematch
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.—In a rematch of the 2013 NAIA National Championship, No. 1-ranked Concordia University (Ore.) posted a 2-1 win over No. 2-ranked Westmont College (Calif.) at Thorrington Field on Friday.
Concordia (6-0-1) got on the board in the 21st minute as junior defender
Shannon McMahon (Lake Forest Park, Wash./Bishop Blanchet H.S.) connected on a 40-yard free kick that sailed just under the crossbar. Westmont (5-1-0) tied the game in the 60th minute on a combination play that resulted in a 10-yard blast by Kaci Mexico.
Alicia Kolter (Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union H.S.) provided the game winner for Concordia in the 73rd minute with a long-distanced strike after intercepting the ball in her own the attacking third.
Westmont outshot Concordia 16-12 and generated a 13-2 disparity in corner kick opportunities.
Concordia improved to 3-2-2 all-time against Westmont with a 1-0 win in last year's NAIA National Championship. Collecting a record of 24-0-1 over the span, Concordia has not lost in 25 matches.
The Warriors dominated the early action with several dangerous chances against the defending champs. Christine Adams, Mallory Mitchell and Kelsey Steck all got early chances with a pair of shots looping just outside the post or scooped up by Concordia keeper
Nicole Franklin (Hillsboro, Ore./Century H.S.).
Before McMahon's blast from near the midfield line,
Erin Huisingh (Pasco, Wash./Chiawana H.S.) gave CU its best opportunity to open the account with a breakaway on the left side that resulted in a low shot that dribbled just right of the far post.
Westmont nearly tied the game just before the half as a Sophie Fuller up-close header with under six minutes remaining sailed wide.
Along with stuffing more than a dozen corner kicks, Franklin stopped a career-high five shots to preserve the win for the top-ranked Cavaliers.
McMahon's goal was her first of the season while Kolter's shot represented a team-leading fourth of the year.
Concordia returns to action on Sunday by facing Kansas Wesleyan University in a neutral match on Westmont's campus. Kickoff is set for 10:30 a.m.
Postgame quotes with head coach Grant Landy
On the start of the rematch…"We knew that Westmont would bring a lot of enthusiasm and energy to the beginning of the game. They pressed us and we gave up too many corners, but we didn't allow a goal, and as the first half progressed, we started to get a foothold in the game. Goalkeeper
Nicole Franklin (Hillsboro, Ore./Century H.S.) was really good in goal today and kept us in the game early on."
On the opening score…"Shannon's goal was crucial because it took away some of their energy and it got the crowd out of the game. This was a very difficult environment to play in. It was good for us to be in this type of environment so early in the season. I am all about putting our team in challenging situations so we can continue to grow."
On the second half…"In the second half, we started to really control the midfield and that's where our combination play improved dramatically. Westmont scored a quality goal in the second half, but we continued to battle. We pressed the backline on the second goal, picked off an errant pass and Kolter had a great finish over the goalkeeper. You have to finish your chances in a game like this."
On the meaning of the win in a hostile environment…"Obviously, I am extremely proud of the team. To come into a challenging environment like this, against a really good team that is gunning for you, and to get a good result, speaks to the progression of this team over the past week."