Women's Soccer nets huge NACC win, shuts out defending champ Aurora

MEQUON, Wis. – Ask any player on the Concordia University Wisconsin women's soccer team their goals heading into the season and every one of them would have probably told you the same one: Beat Aurora. After falling just short in last year's NACC title tilt, and with this year's senior class having been previously winless against the Spartans, the Falcons got their revenge Saturday with a 3-0 win at Fitting Field. The loss for Aurora was their first in conference in nearly two years.

THE BASICS

- Final Score: Concordia Wisconsin 3, Aurora 0
- Location: Fitting Field – Mequon, Wis.
- Records: Concordia Wisconsin 7-1-2, 3-0-0 NACC; Aurora 6-4-0, 3-1-0 NACC

HOW IT HAPPENED

- It took until the 42nd minute for the Falcons to get on the board when Carley Pfannerstill (Grafton, Wis.) made the score 1-0 just before halftime. Pfannerstill took a pass from freshman Mikayla Ross (Oshkosh, Wis.) and launched it to the upper left corner of the goal, giving her team the advantage before the break.

- The second half saw two penalty kicks converted from senior Jaclyn Theune (Oostburg, Wis.). Theune's scores came in the 66th and 89th minutes, respectively.

- We told you about the unheralded group of defenders earlier this week, and they provided another dominant performance Saturday. The group of freshman Josie Dombrowski (Bartlett, Ill.), juniors Abigail Freeland (Grafton, Wis.) and Faith Palmreuter (Frankenmuth, Mich.) and seniors Krista Oelhafen (Allenton, Wis.) and Tehani Dee (Slinger, Wis.) played exceptional in the win, shutting down reigning NACC Player of the Year Nicci Bermudes and the Spartans.

- The midfield group also needs to be mentioned in the handling of the Spartans attack. Theune, freshman Ashley Johnson (Chesterfield, Mich.), sophomore McKenna Kowalski (Wauwatosa, Wis.) and senior Emily Ciesielczyk (Waukesha, Wis.) also played a great match for the Falcons.

- Sophomore Tabitha Ortiz (Plainfield, Ill.) made four saves in the shutout victory. Ortiz stopped three shots before halftime and one after the break as the Falcons held a 14-13 edge in shots.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

- Aurora's last loss in conference play came at Edgewood nearly two years to the date. The Eagles shut out Aurora by a 1-0 score on October 5, 2013.

- The two-goal match was the third of Theune's career. She scored twice in a 12-0 win over Maranatha Baptist her freshman season and also scored a pair of goals in a 5-1 win over Benedictine last season.

- Pfannerstill moved to within three of 50 career goals as she now has 47 in her impressive three-plus seasons. The senior now has eight goals this season.

- CUW and Dominican are now the only two unbeaten teams in conference play this season. Looking ahead a bit, the Falcons and Stars are scheduled to play in Mequon on October 17.

UP NEXT

- The Falcons will stay at home for a NACC matchup against Benedictine Wednesday. That contest is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start.