Match Stats: Final Stats vs. Concordia (Wis.)

Key Point of the Game: The Cobber defenseheld Concordia scoreless for 87:13 after the Falcons scored at the 2:47 mark to go ahead 1-0.

The Quote: "This was a lot of fun! We played soccer today better than we ever did last season." Cobber head coach Damian Koshnick.
The Leader: Concordia junior Brandon Root returned to the Cobbers after a year off and scored the game-winning goal at 57:47. Root also helped set up the first Cobber goal just before the break.

Game Recap:

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn.(09/02/06)-- The Concordia men's soccer team that hopes springs eternal at the beginning of every season as they snapped a 14-game losing streak by beating Concordia University (Wis.) 2-1.

The Cobbers' victory was even more improbable since they were facing a team that had lost in the championship game of their conference tournament last season. The outlook seemed even more bleak when Concordia allowed a goal after only 2:47.

The climate changed at the end of the first period when Cobber junior forward Brandon Root was bale to get behind the Falcon defense on the endline. Root hammered a shot that ricocheted off the post and found a wide open Mergim Vllahiu who stuck it into a lane between the defenders and into the side of the net for his first collegiate goal..

Root's return to the Cobber offense after a year hiatus proved even more beneficial at the start of the second half when he collected an errant trap from the Falcon defender, went in all alone on goal and calmly slotted the ball past the keeper.

From that point on, the new-look Cobber defense refused to break and held the Falcons scoreless for the final 87:13. The fact that Concordia only allowed one goal is cause for excitement in the Cobber camp. Last season Concordia was only able to hold opponents to under two goals twice.

Not coincidentally, the Cobbers' lone win of the year came in one of the two games they held their opponent under two goals.

For the game, the Cobbers were outshot 17-12. Concordia freshman keeper Mads Schmidt, making his collegiate debut, turned aside 10 shots to pick up the win.

The Falcons held a 5-0 edge in corner kicks and the goalie tandem of Steve Huenik and Tom Anderson made six saves in the game.

Root was the catalyst for the Concordia offense. He posted three of the Cobbers' 12 shots. Kevin Quimby and Ryan Elling had two shots each in the winning effort.

Concordia will face the University of Mary (N.D.) in the final game of the St. John's Tournament on Sunday at 2:30pm.