Concordia Women's Soccer played their first WHAC game of the season this afternoon against the Panthers of Davenport University. The Cardinals came in to the game with a 4-2-1 record this season and a 10-0-1 record at Cardinal Stadium--one of those wins came against Davenport late last season when the Cardinals beat the Panthers 2-1 on October 31st.
The Cardinals dominated the ball from the start applying continuous pressure and keeping the ball in front of the Davenport net. After several near misses, pressure finally paid off in the 30th minute when a Julia Palushaj (SO/Northville, MI) header found the back of the net off a corner kick from Lora Palushaj (JR/South Lyon, MI). The Cardinals completed the half impressively outshooting the Panthers 15 to 1.
After a quick breather and specific instructions by Coach Steve Shelton during the intermission, the Cardinals continued their attacking style of play. It didn't take long for Heather Emke (SO/Novi, MI) to put in her first goal of the game from a nice ball played by Sydney Rouse (SO/Canton, MI). A few minutes later the ball was punched in by Lora Palushaj for an unassisted goal.
Davenport threatened a few times in the second half but a quality save at the 28' by WHAC Defensive Player of the Week, Maria Lulgjuraj (FR/West Bloomfield, MI) kept the ball in front of the goal.
The last goal of the game was scored by Heather Emke with 25' left in the contest. Emke's second goal of the game was a spectacular shot that was fired off the right foot from 25 yards out in the middle of the field. What seemed to be a wide miss to the right of the goal, impressively found the top right corner and left the Davenport goalie with no chance of a save.
With the win, the Cardinals move their season record to 5-2-1 overall and 1-0 in WHAC play. The Cardinals also advance their overall record on the turf field at Cardinal Stadium to 11-0-1. The Cardinals will face another NCAA DII opponent when they travel to Ferris State on September 22nd.
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