(Ann Arbor, MI) Concordia Women's Soccer team faced off against Siena Heights University Wednesday afternoon. The game featured two top WHAC teams: the Cardinals (8-3-1, 4-0 WHAC) who are receiving votes in the NAIA DII Top 25 Polls and the 9-2 (WHAC 2-1) Saints who came in ranked 15th.

The Cardinals and the Saints came out playing aggressively from the first minute forcing each team's defense to make plays. Despite opportunities for both teams to score, neither team was able to find the back of the net in the first half. Three consecutive shots by the Saints under the 3' mark kept CUAA goalie, Maria Lulgjuraj (FR/West Bloomfield, MI) extremely active with one shot requiring to her make an impressive diving save to her left.

The Cardinals and Saints continued this tough play in the second half of the game. Similar to the first half, neither team was able to capitalize on opportunities. Emotions began to run high with the game remaining scoreless and the clock winding down. It was the Saints who scored the lone goal in the 86th minute when Taylor Mulder found the back of the net of an assist from Samantha Bartelotti.. The Cardinals continued attacking when a corner kick header nearly missed high.

Statistically, the Saints and Cardinals were nearly even with shots being 13-11 in CUAA's favor. Reigning WHAC Offensive Player of the Week, Heather Emke (SO/Novi, MI), led the Cardinals with 5 shots. This was the Cardinals first time being defeated at Cardinal Stadium and their first conference loss of the season. Concordia will look to bounce back at Madonna University next Wednesday, October 14th at 1:00pm.

Follow Women's Soccer and all Cardinal Athletics online at concordiacardinals.com and on Twitter @CUAACardinals.