Match Stats: Final Stats vs. University of Mary

Key Point of the Game: The game was delayed for 1:15 due to lightning. Facing a shortened game, the Cobbers seized control by scoring at 13:50.

The Quote: "I am very excited about the way the team is playing and the intensity we have shown on the field in the past two games." Cobber head coach Damian Koshnick.
The Leader: Sophomore midfielder Chase Hegarty scored the game-winning goal for the Cobbers at the 57:26 mark. Hegarty also had a team-high four shots against the University of Mary.

Game Recap:

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn.(09/03/06)--In 2005, the Concordia men's soccer team was never able to win two games. After two games in 2006, the Cobbers have already reached that plateau and are playing the game at a higher level than at any point in the past few seasons.

Concordia scored two goals for the second straight game to beat the University of Mary (N.D.) 2-1 in a game that was delayed by 1:15 due to lightning. The Cobbers won both games in the St. John's Tournament to win the championship. Concordia is now 2-0 on the year, the first time that has happened since 2003 when they also won both games at the SJU tourney.

The two-game winning streak is even more improbable since the Cobbers were playing with only 10 men for the last 26 minutes of the game after freshman Mergim Vllahiu was sent off the field for a red card violation at the 43:59 mark.

Unlike in 2005, when adversity used to run over the Cobbers like a runaway freight train, Concordia was able to pull together and unlock the 1-1 tie less than 15 minutes later.

Sophomore midfielder Chase Hegarty found himself on the end of a cross from Chad Morlock and was able to flick the ball with his head over the Mary goalie and into the vacated net.

The Cobber defense then held up to preserve the second win of the young season.

For the game, the Cobbers outshot the Maruaders 18-13 overall and 10-3 on net.

Concordia goalie Mads Schmidt played his second straight full game, coming away with only two saves but solidifying the backline with his presence in the penalty area.

Hegarty and junior forward Brandon Root led the Cobber offense with four shots each. Root has seven total shots in his first two games back in the Concordia lineup.

The Cobbers will put their winning streak on the line in California when they face Bethany (Calif.) on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 11:00am in Santa Cruz, Calif.