Box Score
Nov. 3, 2013 - The 2013 season will go into the books as the best in the 13-year history of the Concordia University Chicago women's soccer program. Under third-year head coach Thomas Goines, the team set a new season record for wins and earned its first-ever appearance in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference tournament. However, the Cougars' season was undone in the span of six minutes as host Marian University scored twice and then held off the Cougars for a 2-1 victory.
Marian drew first blood just 2:16 into the match. The Sabres' Laura Maly wound up with the ball just outside the box at a slight angle to the left. Maly uncorked a strong left-footed shot that curled slightly and escaped the reach of goalkeeper Callie Hasselbring (Houston, TX/Cypress Ridge).
The Sabres made it 2-0 in the sixth minute. Maisie Floyd was able to control the ball along the end line and centered a pass into the box. A charging Mikaila Johnson put a hard strike on the ball to the left side, giving Hasselbring no chance to keep it out of the net.
Concordia-Chicago came back with a few good chances that unfortunately sailed wide of the net. The Cougars managed only one shot on net in the half, that by Nikki Anderson (Oswego, IL/H.S.) in the center of the field from 15 yards out. On the other end of the field, Hasselbring kept the score from becoming 3-0 as she made a great save on Maisie Floyd. The Sabres' midfielder had a clean breakaway, but Hasselbring came out aggressively at Floyd and smothered the shot.
The Cougars regrouped at halftime and came out with even more intensity. Alyssa Soulis (Grayslake, IL/Grayslake North) had an early opportunity that was saved by Marian keeepr Caitlyn Rosenberger. Later on, the Cougars earned a direct kick from about 30 yards out in the center. Haley Graner (Waukesha, WI/Wakesha West) unleashed a solid kick over the wall that was out of Rosenberger's reach but grazed off the crossbar and out of play.
Finally, in the 68th minute, the Cougars' hard work paid dividends. Elizabeth Sanders (St. Louis, MO/Parkway South) and a trio of Sabres' defenders converged on a ball just inside the box. Saunders went down going for the ball, and the referee awarded a penalty kick. The freshman stepped up to the spot and went high to the right, giving Rosenberger no chance. The goal was Sanders' fourth of the season and put the Cougars within striking distance.
Concordia-Chicago's best chance for the tying goal over the final 22 minutes came just moments after Sanders' goal. As a long pass came from the midfield, Natalie Weinhold (St. Peters, MO/Lutheran St. Charles) was able to get behind all of Marian's defenders, beating any possible offside attempt. But the pass sailed just inches above Weinhold's head as the home team dodged another bullet.
The final two chances at the tying marker were not as dangerous. Soulis' shot from the right corner of the box was handled by Rosenberger as was a final direct kick in the last 30 seconds taken by Sharice Ellenwood (Streamwood, IL/H.S.). Marian was able to clear the zone well enough to run out the final seconds and bring an end to the Cougars' stellar season.
"Although this loss hurts right now, we can feel proud of our accomplishments as a team this year," said Goines who can look forward to much of his team returning in 2014 minus seniors Soulis and Angela Powers (Palos Heights, IL/Shepard). "I told our team to remember this feeling today and use it as motivation during the off-season preparations so that we will be ready to reach the next level."
