Oct. 14, 2011 - Records fell like raindrops this afternoon as the Concordia women's soccer team defeated Maranatha Baptist Bible College by a 5-0 score.
From a team perspective, the Cougars posted their third straight shutout win for the first time in the program's 11-year history. Concordia has outscored its opponents 18-0 over the last three matches, not allowing an opponents' score since the 85th minute of the Oct. 8 match versus Edgewood.
The individual records went to sophomore forward Alyssa Soulis (Grayslake, IL/Grayslake North). Soulis scored three goals today, giving her 11 in the last three matches. More importantly, she claimed the team's season records for goals with 20 and points with 47. The previous record-holder was Kari Zielke with 19 goals and 45 points in the 2005 season.
Soulis started the scoring at the 5:49 mark. Running onto a perfectly placed pass by Anne Rockert (Kankakee, IL/Herscher), Soulis broke in alone, walked around the keeper and drilled her shot to the corner of the net.
The score remained 1-0 until the Cougars struck for two goals late in the half. Maggie Kucek (Oak Forest, IL/H.S.) netted her third of the year unassisted in the 37th minute. Just 17 seconds later, Soulis struck for her second of the match, tying Zielke's goal record and giving Concordia a 3-0 lead at the half.
Coming out for the second half, Soulis did not wait long to score her record-breaking goal. Just 11 seconds after kickoff, Soulis came in alone on the keeper and buried the shot in the corner for number 20 on the year. In addition to setting the record, the goal also stood as the team's fastest ever at the start of a half.
Senior Kelly Engelking (Elgin, IL/Burlington Central) closed out the scoring in the 73rd minute. Breaking in from the right side, Engelking shot from a sharp angle. Her shot caromed off the post and over the goal line for her first career goal.
The Cougars fired 14 shots while holding the Crusaders to two. Callie Hasselbring (Houston, TX/Cypress Ridge) and Sarah Ann Evers (Napoleon, OH/H.S.) combined for the shutout, Hasselbring making the only save necessary.
Concordia (9-6-0, 4-6-0 NAC) will look to tie the 2003 and 2005 teams with its tenth win of the season when they play at Wisconsin Lutheran College on Tuesday night.
