Falcons Finish Three in Raider Loss
| Published: 09/25/2012 |
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Milwaukee, Wis. – After a 3-1 victory over the number 15 ranked team in the country, Augustana, the Raiders were poised for another tough opponent, the 8-2 Concordia Falcons. The beginning of the contest was promising for MSOE, when in the opening seconds Paula Bohl (Muskego, Wis. / Muskego H.S.) found herself free in the Concordia penalty box. Her shot went inches wide of the post. MSOE continued to attack. Bohl used her strength to post up defenders, and subtly played off balls to Anna O’Donnell (Plainfield, Ill. / Plainfield), Natalie Gayner (Whitefish, Mont. / Whitefish) and Caitlin Liddiard (Waukesha, Wis. / Waukesha South). The attacks, teased the Falcon defense, but never culminated in a goal. Coach Rolf Zersen liked what he saw in the beginning of the match. “I thought our first 20 minutes was some of the most creative soccer we’ve played. Unfortunately, we couldn’t put one in the back of the net. That happens in this game.”
In the 21st minute, of the back and forth affair, Concordia scored the opening goal. Brittany Klump tapped in a finish off an Emma Lumpe (Lawrence, Kan. / Lawrence) save. It was 1-0 Concordia. The Falcons followed the goal with increased pressure. They hit the crossbar and counter attacked with another chance, after Bohl had her shot deflected at the top of the Falcon penalty box. Then MSOE tested the Falcon defense. O’Donnell turned the corner, but her serve, intended for Liddiard, was crisply cleared away. Kate Herman’s (Sycamore, Ill. / Sycamore) pinpoint cross, in the 41st minute, to the head of O’Donnell was nodded wide of the goal. The Concordia keeper neatly defended a MSOE through ball. Concordia closed the half with a chance of their own, when Faith Palmreuter’s shot was saved by Lumpe. The score remained 0-1 to the Falcons at halftime.
The Falcons wasted no time in the beginning of the half. Lauren Straehler forced Lumpe into a save in the opening seconds. Concordia continued to press. In the 69th minute their pressure paid dividends. Klump finished her second of the match. It was 2-0 to the Falcons. After more Concordia attack, the Raiders thought they had their answer. Bohl finished a Gayner pass in the 75th minute, but was whistled offside. As time began to run out on the Raiders they mounted another attack, but Bohl was denied by the bar and O’Donnell by the Falcon keeper. In the 88th minute Palmreuter closed out the game to make it 3-0. Coach Zersen was analytical about the loss. “We just played three games in four days and did some fantastic things. I am pleased with where we are right now. Tonight was a 3-0 loss, but not a 3-0 game. These last three games definitely showed how good we can be.”
Next up for the Raiders is Wisconsin Lutheran College. They will kick off this Saturday, at 3:30 PM at Hart Park in Wauwatosa, Wis.
