Another Sunday Shutout

MOORHEAD, Minn. (9/09/12)—Concordia junior midfielder Michael Forston had two goals in a span of 1:10 to help the Cobbers post a 2-0 win over visiting Wartburg on Sunday. It marks the second consecutive Sunday that CC has posted a shutout victory.

The shutout win completes CC's pre-MIAC non-conference schedule. The Cobbers are now 3-2 on the year and have blanked their opponents in all three victories. Wartburg falls for the second time in their first four games and is now 1-2-1 on the year.

The game turned into a back-and-forth affair from the opening five minutes of play. Both teams had multiple chances in the final 20 yards in the opening 45 minutes. Concordia had an 8-7 edge in total shots in the first half but the Knights came away with a 3-1 advantage in shots on goal.

Concordia seized control of the game in the first six minutes of the second half. After surviving four consecutive corner kicks by Wartburg, Concordia countered on the left side and junior midfielder Jannick Bettels was able to gain control of the ball on the Wartburg end line. His subsequent pass went all the way through the goalmouth where it was met by Forston for the tap-in goal at 49:50. Jared Rice was credited with the other assist on the play as he started the combination passing play that sprung Bettels down the left wing.

Forston then added a second goal 1:10 later when he once again was in the right place at the right time. Junior midfielder Matt Glogoza won possession in the middle of the field and volleyed a ball over the Knights' backline. Rice ran on to the ball and was able to tip it past the goalie before the two hammered each other in a massive collision. The ball then skipped behind the two where Forston calmly ran onto the "freebie" and slid it into the open net. The two goals were the first of the year for Forston and are double of his career scoring output. Rice's assist on the play pushes his team-leading point total to seven. He had eight points for the entire 2011 season.

Facing a two-goal deficit, Wartburg decided to push extra attackers into the offense and play the ball long to try and win chances off of deflections and "second balls". The tactic almost paid off when they had the ball on the win and a crossing attempt was met with a header from six yards out. CC goalie Peter Runquist came up with the "point blank" save to preserve the two-goal lead.

The Cobbers' defense was able to hold the Knights to only one shot in the final 14 minutes of play and Runquist was able to earn his third shutout of the year which is one fewer than he had in all of last year. It is also his ninth career blanking.

Wartburg held a slim 13-12 advantage in overall shots and came away with a 7-3 margin in shots on goal.

Concordia will now turn its attention to conference play. The Cobbers will open the MIAC season when they host Hamline on Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 2 p.m.