Box Score After suffering a 2-0 loss to a regionally-ranked UW-Whitewater squad Saturday, the St. Catherine University hoped it was battle-tested and prepared to take on a Concordia College squad that ranked No. 16 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III poll. Unfortunately, the Wildcats couldn't find a way to break the Cobber defense in suffering a 2-0 loss to open Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play Tuesday in Moorhead, Minnesota. 

Head Coach Chris Citowicki was happy with the effort his Wildcats put up against one of the top programs in the nation. "We played the best game we have played to date as a program," said Citowicki. "We competed and not let Concordia take the game from us."

In the opening minutes of the game, the Wildcats appeared to play with the Cobbers as Ellen Kokes (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) recorded the fist shot on goal of the game at the 10:50 mark. The Wildcats then had several opportunities off two-consecutive corner kicks less than six minutes later, but couldn't convert to beat Cobber goalkeeper Elizabeth Bitzan. 

The Cobbers were the first to strike as their second shot of the game found its way past Danielle Mendez (Bloomington, Minn./Academy of Holy Angels) off the foot of Emily Wendorff. The Wildcats managed to hold the Cobbers scoreless the remainder of the first half to go down just 1-0 heading into the final 45 minutes of regulation.

In the second half, the Cobbers picked up where they left off and didn't waste any time increasing their lead as Wendorff recorded her second goal of the game on a pass from Erika Grinde. The Wildcats were able to hold off the Cobber charge for the remainder of the game, but couldn't get going offensively in losing 2-0. 

Kokes recorded the two of the Wildcats' three shots on goal, while Ali Baumgartner (Shoreview, Minn./Roseville) had the other. Mendez picked up three saves on the Cobbers' five shots on goal. Elly Leyva (San Jacinto, Calif./San Jacinto) and Hannah Brown (Burnsville, Minn./Lakeville South) also had shots that missed the mark.

With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 1-3-1 overall and open the MIAC season 0-1. They return to action for their MIAC home opener Saturday against the University of St. Thomas for a 1 p.m. matchup in St. Paul. 

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