Cougar Women Go Extra Time Again

Box Score

Oct. 16, 2013 - The Concordia Cougar women's soccer team entered tonight's match at Benedictine University hoping to put some distance between themselves and the host Eagles while solidifying their position in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference standings. In the end, both teams earned a point in the standings thanks to a 1-1 tie.

The first part of the game was wide-open, beginning just 30 seconds in as Alex Wilson's (Round Lake, IL/Grayslake Central) shot from 15 yards out sailed just high over the crossbar. At the other end, Cougars' keeper Callie Hasselbring (Houston, TX/Cypress Ridge) was forced to make a few saves including one on a high bouncer with Benedictine's leading scorer Nikki Jhanji perched right on the doorstep.

Benedictine had a slight edge in play the latter portion of the first half, but it was Concordia that would score against the grain of play with just 1:06 remaining. Alyssa Soulis (Grayslake, IL/Grayslake North) played the ball to Anne Rockert (Limestone, IL/Herscher) who masterfully controlled the ball while stepping around a few defenders before blasting a shot from the top of the box that beat Eagles' keeper Abby Gary inside the right post.

The Eagles came out with a burst in the second half and evened the score eight minutes in. Jhanji's corner kick from the left side sailed into a crowd in front of the goal from where Giana Canfield headed the ball down and past Hasselbring.

Over the next several minutes, both teams missed grand opportunities. For Bendictine, a deflected pass rolled across the goalmouth and just missed the left post by inches. For Concordia, Caeleigh Morton (Oswego, IL/H.S.) let fly a 20-yarder from the right that beat the keeper but just went wide of the far post.

The two teams went to overtime, and Benedictine missed out on a glorious opportunity in the first minute as Jhanji was wide right from short range. Concordia's best chance came later as Sharice Ellenwood's (Streamwod, IL/H.S.) restart from 25 yards out was saved by Gary.

Hasselbring finished with seven saves while Gary recorded three. Benedictine outshot Concordia by a final margin of 20-8.

Concordia (9-2-3, 3-2-2 NACC) will host Wisconsin Lutheran College on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 following the men's game.

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Players Mentioned

#20 Caeleigh Morton: F; 6' 0"; Freshman

#17 Alyssa Soulis: F; 5' 6"; Senior

#37 Callie Hasselbring: GK; 5' 7"; Senior; Challenge S.C.

#15 Anne Rockert: D; 5' 5"; Senior; Herscher Tigers

#14 Alex Wilson: M/F; 5' 5"; Junior; ELA Elite

#15 Sharice Ellenwood: D/M; 5' 4"; Senior; Hawthorn Woods

Players Mentioned

#20 Caeleigh Morton
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: F

#17 Alyssa Soulis
: 5' 6"; Senior
: F

#37 Callie Hasselbring
: 5' 7"; Senior; Challenge S.C.
: GK

#15 Anne Rockert
: 5' 5"; Senior; Herscher Tigers
: D

#14 Alex Wilson
: 5' 5"; Junior; ELA Elite
: M/F

#15 Sharice Ellenwood
: 5' 4"; Senior; Hawthorn Woods
: D/M