(Spring Arbor, MI) – Concordia women's soccer traveled to #4-ranked Spring Arbor on Monday evening for a significant non-conference matchup. The Cardinals came into the game 2-1 overall while the Cougars entered a perfect 3-0. While Spring Arbor outshot Concordia 18-3 overall, the Cardinals were able to clamp down defensively after a goal by Samantha Golchuk (JR/Garden City, MI) in the 30th minute to earn a 1-0 shutout for the upset victory.
Concordia weathered an early offensive attack from Spring Arbor. The Cardinals withstood multiple corner kick opportunities and Anna Roman (FR/Carleton, MI) notched 3 saves in the 1st half. CUAA struck first when Samantha Golchuk scored in the 31st minute. Spring Arbor's goalkeeper went out of the net to play the ball, and Golchuk was able to capitalize by tapping the ball into the open goal. The Cardinals held a 1-0 lead at halftime.
Spring Arbor continued to attack the Concordia goal in the 2nd half. After a Cougar shot rang off the crossbar, Kiera Savage (FR/Canton, MI) countered with a strong run into the Spring Arbor zone for CUAA's best offensive chance of the half.
Anna Roman continued to make many critical saves in the 2nd half, recording 4 more to finish with 7 in the game. The Concordia defense managed the clock well and remained up to the task, stifling Spring Arbor's offensive chances.
The Cougars had one more opportunity on a deep free kick with 5 seconds remaining in the game. After a frantic scrum in front of the net, Anna Roman was able to keep the ball out and the Cardinals celebrated the 1-0 upset victory.
The marks the first time in the last 6 matches dating back to 2012 that the Cardinals have defeated the Cougars. Coach Abbott was a former standout student-athlete at Spring Arbor and is the first time she has defeated her alma mater since taking over as the Cardinals head coach in 2016
Concordia improves to 3-1 with the win and will play their next game on the road when they travel to Taylor on Saturday, September 7. The match is set to begin at 4pm.
