Sept. 10, 2016 - Putting together what head coach Chris Brown called "our most complete performance of the season so far," the Concordia-Chicaago women's soccer team controlled play for the full 90 minutes today in defeating the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 2-0 at Concordia Stadium.

The Cougars created chances right from the opening kickoff as Alisha Johnson (Coal City, IL/H.S.) was the first to test UWSP keeper Sarah Peplinski. Defender Emma Stone (St. Louis, MO/Fort Zumwalt South) also cracked a shot from long range which sailed just left of goal. But in the tenth minute, the Cougars captured the lead with Sarah LaCost (Mount Prospect, IL/Prospect) taking the ball at the corner of the box and cutting toward the middle before shooting high to the right side of the goal. The strike was LaCost's tem-leading third of the season for the 1-0 lead.

Concordia-Chicago continued to pepper Peplinski, forcing her into six first-half saves as CUC held a 10-4 advantage in shots and 5-0 edge in corner kicks. Cougars' keeper Allyson Krajnak (Griffith, IN/H.S.) was required to make just two saves, one in the final minute of the half, as CUC went to the break still leading 1-0.

The Pointers picked up the pace to start the second half, but the Cougars' defense was up to the task of preventing any solid scoring chances. Concordia-Chicago then got the desired insurance tally in the 61st minute, courtesy of freshman Samantha Wozniak (Villa Park, IL/Willowbrook). Wozniak showed some nifty footwark in the middle of the field to evade a couple of challenges before surprising Peplinski with a hard shot to the left side of the net from about 15 yards out. The goal was Wozniak's first for her collegiate career.

Stevens Point looked to get the goal back quickly as Olivia Bohnert shot hard from a sharp angle. However, Krajnak smothered the ball at the post to keep the visitors off the board. The Cougars defense took it from there and clamped down over the final half-hour to protect their advantage and register their second win of 2016.

"The North Central match and this one have been good measuring sticks for our progress," said Brown. "Our defense has been playing a good physical style, tough but under control. We'll look forward to take another step forward on Sunday against a quality opponent on the road." The Cougars will play at Ripon College on Sunday at 4:00.