Senior Annika Hayman is tied for second in the NAIA with five assists so far this season.
PORTLAND, Ore.—Hopping out to a two-goal advantage early in the second half, No. 1-ranked Concordia University (Ore.) defeated No. 5-ranked Concordia University (Calif.) in the final game of the three-day Holiday Inn Classic held at Tuominen Yard.
The Concordia-Portland (5-0-1) side opened the account in the 20th minute as
Annika Hayman (Redmond, Wash./Redmond H.S.) set up teammate
Erin Huisingh (Pasco, Wash./Chiawana H.S.) in a right-from-left sequence in front of the net. Huisingh, who had already made dangerous runs into the box earlier in the game, calmly placed a 13-yard strike into the net following Hayman's fifth assist of the season.
With Irvine (3-2-0) getting the first two shots off in the second period, CU-Portland managed to add to its tally on its first true chance after the break after a foul call by the eagles just outside the 18-yard box. Working on the left side of the goal box, Portland's
Ariel Kanable (Beaverton, Ore./Southridge H.S.) rocketed the free kick towards the opposite corner where Irvine keeper Jazmin Alvarez swatted the blast downward.
From there, senior
Ashley Ames (Liberty Lake, Wash./Gonzaga Prep) toed the ricocheted ball the final few yards for a 2-0 lead in the 55th minute of play.
Not deterred, the visitors retaliated on a similar play of their own just two minutes later. Taking a free kick from 22 yards away, Natalie Werner's initial offering landed deep in the box where teammate Lauren Nanez tapped the ball into the back of the net for her fifth goal of the season.
The two teams combined to take just three additional shot attempts over the final 30 minutes to preserve the Portland lead.
"For me it was food response to Friday's game," head coach
Grant Landy said. "We collectively didn't play up to our potential last time out so I was proud of how the team turned it around and put the effort and pride back into tonight's match. We started well with crisp passes and good movement so getting a payoff early on was big for us and set the tone for sure."
Overall, Irvine outshot Portland 11-6 and created a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks.
"Having to shuttle players in and out the first two weeks of the season is a big statement in regards to the team's mentality that whatever they have been asked they do," Landy said. "It's a testament to the players, and starting to get our players healthy again will be good for us."
After playing No. 12-ranked Vanguard (Calif.) to a 1-1 tie on Friday and holding off the No. 5-ranked Eagles this evening, the slate will not ease up for Concordia (Ore.), as the Cavilers will return to action on Friday, Sept. 12 at No. 2-ranked Westmont College (Calif.) in Santa Barbara in a rematch of last year's title match where the Cavs pulled out a 1-0 win for its first NAIA National Championship.
"It's an understatement to say that Westmont will be highly motivated for the rematch, but that is exactly why we want to play these early challenges," Landy said.
Followingthe Friday match, Concordia will play a second contest in its roadswing by facing Kansas Wesleyan on Sunday, Sept. 14. Cocnordia faced Kansas Wesleyan in the second round of the 2007 NAIA tournament for the Cavaliers earned a 2-0 win in Daytona Beach, Fla.