WAVERLY – A match-up between a pair of top 10 ranked National Soccer Coaches Association of America North Region ranked squads gave a large crowd at the Wartburg Soccer Complex its money’s worth Sept. 26.
Wartburg, entering as the No. 10-ranked team, battled Concordia College of Moorhead, Minn., coming at No. 3, throughout in a 1-1, double overtime tie. The visiting Cobbers (6-1-1) got started quickly scoring in the opening minute when sophomore defender Nikole Koehn took a rebound off Knights’ sophomore goalkeeper Monica Noti (Carol Stream, Ill.), and struck it in during the first minute. Coach Sara Johnson’s squad (5-3-1) evened it up when a scramble in front of the Concordia net was converted by junior defender Jess Macauley (Cedar Rapids) after the ball bounded off the cross bar in the 41st minute.
The two teams each had opportunities in the second half and during both extra sessions to break the knot. However, Noti, with one save on 12 Cobber shot attempts, and sophomore Ali Nelson with six saves on 16 Knights’ shots, kept their ground in net. The junior duo of Katy Wendt (Bettendorf)and Chelsea Frye (Waverly)combined for nine of Wartburg’s tries. Senior midfielder Susan Obermiller topped Concordia’s charts with three.
Notes – Wartburg returns to Iowa Conference play for a clash with rival Luther Saturday, Oct. 2. Match time is 5 p.m. at the Norse soccer field located directly north of the Regents Center on their campus. … A live video and audio stream will be available via www.go-knights.net, the Internet home of Wartburg athletics. … After that road trip, Johnson’s team has three in a row at home in league play.
