RIVER FOREST, Ill. -- Concordia University Chicago (0-6-2; 0-0-1) took the field against Aurora University (2-5-1; 0-0-1) for their conference opener. In the last matchup between the two teams, CUC came out with the narrow 3-1 victory and clinched a playoff berth. The Cougars would not be so fortunate this time however, as both teams earned a point in the NACC standings in a 1-1 tie.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Senior Brianna Welch netted CUC's lone goal today, as it was her second goal in as many matches.
- Netminders Aleksia Vranjes and Kassie Silenzi combined for seven saves in the draw.
- Aurora controlled 63 percent of their total possession in their own attacking zone, as opposed to 53 percent for CUC.
- Overall, the Cougars out shot the Spartans 20-13.
The first half would be limited to zero goals and just nine total shots as the frame showed the perfect defensive display. Both teams held the other scoreless, and zeroes showed on the scoreboard going into halftime.
Aleksia Vranjes kept the Spartans out of the scoring column with three saves in 34 minutes of playing time.
It would not take long for Aurora to etch the first point into the scorebook after the start of the second half. After a handball in the box, the Spartans would get a free penalty kick and they would capitalize off of it to grab a 1-0 lead.
However, the goal did not set the Cougars back, as Concordia-Chicago went on to rifle off 14 shots in the second half.
Finally a shot fell through, as CUC earned a corner kick in the 67th minute and the potential to create some offense. From the corner serve,
Samantha Goodlett had her shot blocked and eventually redirected the ball in the direction of Welch. About 25 yards out from the goal, Welch struck with her right foot and sent a curving ball into the bottom right corner of Aurora's net to equalize the game.
With 20 minutes to go in regulation, neither team was able to find the back of the net.
As the game went into overtime, Concordia and the Spartans both continued defensive play, as just four total shots were taken between the two overtime frames. In the second overtime period, a Spartan threatened to end the game with a sailing shot towards the left end of the goal, but Silenzi managed to make the save and preserve the 1-1 tie.
CUC will return to action this weekend as the Concordia University of Wisconsin Falcons come to Concordia Stadium for a rivalry match up. Kick off is slated for a 3 p.m. start time.
