Tebbs Carries Concordia Past Simon Fraser in NAIA National Championship Opening Round

(Portland, Oregon) - Top-seeded Concordia advanced to the NAIA Women’s Soccer Championship Final Site in Decatur, Ala., with a 2-1 opening round victory over Simon Fraser Saturday night at Delta Park.

Concordia improves to 19-0-2 this season. Simon Fraser ends its season with an 11-5-3 record. The win also gives CU a winning record against Simon Fraser, 9-8-2 all-time, as Simon Fraser transitions to NCAA Division II next season. The Cavaliers are 5-0-1 against the Clan in their last six matches.

On a frigid night, both teams played to a scoreless tie at halftime. Brittany Orr (Federal Way, Wash./Todd Beamer H.S.) gave CU its best chance in the first half, drilling a low shot toward the goal in the 14th minute of play, but Simon Fraser goalkeeper Amelia Ng’s made a diving save to keep the game scoreless.

Concordia broke through right after halftime when the Clan defense could not clear out a cross into the mixer in front of the goal. Kaitlyn Tebbs (Bend, Ore./Bend H.S.) knocked it in from a few yards out to give CU a 1-0 lead in the 47th minute.

Simon Fraser tied the game up in the 64th minute when Cavalier goalkeeper Tori Talbutt (Boise, Idaho/Capital H.S.) left the net to get the ball but was unable to gain control. Abbey Vogt passed it to Aly Benes a few yards in front of the goal for the open-goal shot.

Tebbs came through again for Concordia in the 72nd minute heading the game-winner into the goal off an Orr free kick from 35-yards out. Tahlia O’Loughlin (Boise, Idaho/Borah H.S.) made contact with the ball as well to earn an assist.

The Clan continued to put pressure on the Concordia defense into the final seconds. Simon Fraser had a corner kick with under 10 seconds remaining in the contest, and Talbutt made a save on a close-range shot with two seconds left to go to seal the victory for Concordia.

Concordia outshot Simon Fraser 15-6 in the contest, and both keepers finished with three saves. Each team had a pair of corner kicks in the contest.

With the pair of goals, Tebbs broke the double-digit barrier with 11 on the season. She leads the Cavaliers in both goals and assists (8).

The Cavaliers travel to Alabama for the remainder of the NAIA tournament. Their next contest will be Nov. 29 at 1 p.m. (CST) against Hastings (Neb.). Hastings tied No. 16 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 1-1 but advanced to the second round after escaping with a 3-2 edge in penalty kicks.