Ciesielczyk sisters guide Women's Soccer to key NACC win over MSOE

MILWAUKEE – Sisters Emily and Nicole Ciesielczyk each scored a goal to guide the Concordia University Wisconsin Women's Soccer team to a 2-0 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win over MSOE Saturday at Viets Field. The win keeps the Falcons unbeaten in NACC play through two matches as they head into a showdown with defending league champion Aurora next Saturday.

THE BASICS

- Final Score: Concordia Wisconsin 2, MSOE 0
- Location: Viets Field – Milwaukee
- Records: CUW, 6-1-2, 2-0-0 NACC; MSOE, 5-4-0, 1-2-0 NACC

HOW IT HAPPENED

- It was younger sister Nicole Ciesielcyzk (freshman – Waukesha, Wis.) who put the Falcons up 1-0 in the 10th minute of play Saturday. Nicole took a centering pass from her older sister Emily and finished from eight yards out, giving the Falcons the early edge.

- The score would remain 1-0 into the break as sophomore keeper Tabitha Ortiz (Plainfield, Ill.) made three first-half saves to keep the host Raiders off the scoreboard. Ortiz would finish the match with four saves in moving her record to 3-0-1 on the season.

- The 1-0 score held all the way until the 83rd minute when senior Emily Ciesielczyk (Waukesha, Wis.) lofted a shot over the Raiders keeper from the top of the box, making the score 2-0. Freshman Kayla Schlosser (Germantown, Wis.) assisted on the second goal.

- The Falcons finished the contest with a 15-10 edge in shots, including a 10-4 advantage in shots on goal. Nicole Ciesielczyk and senior Carley Pfannerstill (Grafton, Wis.) each paced the Falcons with four shots, with each also tallying three on goal.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

- CUW entered play as the 10th ranked team in the Central region according to the latest NSCAA poll. A pair of wins this past week should only improve the Falcons rank in one of the tougher regions in the nation.

- Saturday marked the first time both Emily and Nicole Ciesielczyk have recorded points in the same match, but it wasn't the first time Emily and a sister had both accomplished the feat. In 2012, Emily's freshman year, she and older sister Alyssa Ciesielczyk, recorded points in the same match four times. Those included four Alyssa goals which were assisted by Emily.

- The Falcons know a thing or two about strong starts in NACC play. The last four seasons have seen CUW post at least a 4-0 start in conference competition. The last three seasons CUW has lost its first conference match to Aurora, a streak they hope to stop next Saturday.

- CUW improved to 10-5-1 against MSOE in the Ryan Middendorf (2003-present) era. The Falcons have won two straight in the series and four of the past five.

- It was another strong showing from the backline of the Falcons on Saturday. The defensive starting group of senior Krista Oelhafen (Allenton, Wis.), juniors Faith Palmreuter (Frankenmuth, Mich.) and Abigail Freeland (Grafton, Wis.) and freshman Josie Dombrowski (Barlett, Ill.) shut down the Raiders forward group. Senior reserve Tehani Dee (Slinger, Wis.) also continues to play an important role in the defense.

THE OPPOSITION

- The Raiders split goalkeepers Saturday with starter Syden Stephens and reserve Mary McFee each playing a half. Each allowed a goal with Stephens making three stops and McFee posting five saves.

- Sara Travia led MSOE with four shots, two of those coming on goal.

UP NEXT

- The Falcons will have a week off before the rematch of last year's NACC Final against Aurora. The contest between CUW and Aurora is set for a 3:30 p.m. start at Fitting Field on the campus of CUW.