No. 6 Hastings spoil Concordia opener
PORTLAND, Ore.—Battling with just 10 players for most of the match due to a first-half red card, Concordia fell 2-0 to No. 6-ranked Hastings College (Neb.) in the team's season opener on Saturday afternoon.
Hastings, the 2010 NAIA champs, got on the board in the 13th minute of play as freshman Justin Wiley took a free kick just outside the 18-yard box. Wiley's shot soared over the wall and directly at CU keeper
Arne Niermann (Lippstadt, Germany/Privates Gymnasium Marienschule), but a bobble on the snare led to an early lead for the Broncos.
Concordia's fortunes would continue against them as junior midfielder
Ben Culpan (Auckland, New Zealand/Napier Boys H.S.) was issued a red card in the 23rd minute of play, forcing the Cavaliers to play down a player for the remaining of the match.
Despite the disadvantage, Concordia's work rate remained high which led to a decent amount of possession in the first two thirds of the pitch.
Hastings, however, limited Concordia's chances at goal throughout the affair as the Cavs managed just one shot on goal on four total attempts.
With a connection from a pair of substitutes, the Broncos added a score in the 77th minute of action with Thomas Guthrie receiving a feed from teammate Chris Gousios and planting a 13-yard shot into the upper left corner of the net.
Concordia will return to action on Monday as the Cavs host No. 23-ranked Rocky Mountain College. Opening kick is set for 2 p.m. at Tuominen Yard. A day prior to CU's match, Rocky Mountain will face Hastings as the Broncos will remain in Portland to play the Battlin' Bears to close out their West Coast trip.