Kolter brace lifts Concordia in CCC opener

9/25/2014 9:51:00 PM

PORTLAND, Ore.—The No. 1-ranked Concordia women's soccer team scored two goals in each half, two off the foot of senior Alicia Kolter (Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union H.S.), to defeat Northwest Christian University 4-0 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference opener on Thursday.

Recording the eventual game-winner in the 10th minute and returning to score her second goal of the match in the 68th minute, Kolter opened the scoring in each half for Concordia (8-0-1, 1-0-0 CCC).

Kolter's first score came via a free kick by Ariel Kanable (Beaverton, Ore./Southridge H.S.) from the right side of the pitch where defender Shannon McMahon (Lake Forest Park, Wash./Bishop Blanchet H.S.), positioned by the far post, headed the ball back into the mixer. Taking the volley from five yards out, Kolter planted the point-blank shot into the net for her fifth score of the season.

Midway through the first half, Kanable registered a goal of her own— her third of the year—on a similar play but with a play in off an Annika Hyman corner from the opposite side of the field and Mackenna Morton (Yakima, Wash./Davis H.S.) taking the first touch.

Erin Huisingh (Pasco, Wash./Chiawana H.S.) setup Kolter's second goal while Alicia Alarcon (Portland, Ore./Sunset H.S.) connected on a long shot from the right side for the team's final tally. Working in the 77th minute, Bobbi Eckler (Vancouver, Wash./Union H.S.) delivered a smooth pass down the sideline to Alarcon, who wasted little time in a long-sweeping score from 25 yards out and perfectly placed inside the far post.

Overall, Concordia outshot Northwest Christian (4-5-0, 0-0-0 CCC) by a 24-2 margin and generated a 12-0 advantage in corner kicks.

Nicole Franklin (Hillsboro, Ore./Century H.S.) improved to 4-0-1 on the season by making the start and playing the complete first half. Olivia Brock (Olympia, Wash./Olympia H.S.) and Kiaya Paulsen (Lake Stevens, Wash./Lake Stevens H.S.) split time between the posts in the second half to complete the team's fifth shutout of the season.

The Concordia trio did not record a save in the contest while NCU keeper Kristin Fulbright came up with five stops. The Beacon's best scoring chance came in the 40th minute as Mishayla Bertelsen unleashed a strong free kick from 20 yards out after a Concordia handball was called just outside the 18-yard box. Bertleson's blast from the center of the pitch sailed just high of the crossbar.

Concordia will return to action on Saturday by hosting Corban University at Tuominen Yard at 7 p.m. The Beacons are set to play at Warner Pacific College on Saturday.