ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – A late goal from junior
Ben Richburg denied Concordia of comeback efforts as the Bethel University men's soccer team held on defeating the Cobbers 4-3 at Ona Orth Athletic Complex Saturday afternoon.
A hat trick effort from senior
Connor Nelson in the opening 30 minutes of the match left Bethel in a good position until Concordia responded with three of its own in the second half. Nelson became the hero again assisting on Richburg's game-winner in the 89th minute improving the Royals to 5-3 overall and 1-1 in MIAC play. The Royals hit the road Thursday taking on Crown College at 7:30 p.m. before returning home next Saturday against Hamline.
After an impressive first half scoring performance, Nelson wasn't going to let Saturday's match go into overtime as the final 90 seconds ticked away. Richburg had worked his way down the left side of the pitch giving it up to Nelson in the middle. Nelson quickly played it back to Richburg before being tripped up by a Cobber defender. Playing advantage Nelson took a nice touch before sending it off the far side post and in for the win.
Concordia had multiple chances at an equalizer with a shot that hit the top of the cross bar followed by two shots within close distance that were saved by
Ben Wright in the final 20 second of the match.
Nelson put BU on the scoreboard in the 13th minute tapping in a loose ball that made its way into the box off a corner kick. 10 minutes later Nelson found himself in the right place again tapping in another loose ball in the box after a scrum on a ball sent in by
Brandon Martinez-Luhman. In the 30th minute Nelson completed the hat trick sending in a shot from 26 yards out through traffic.
Wright picked up three saves in the first half before ending with a career-high 10 including multiple clutch saves down the stretch.
Concordia took advantage of a Bethel turnover in the mid field cutting the lead to 3-1 in the 52nd minute. In the 62nd minute BU found themselves on the not so lucky side of a play where a Cobber sent in a cross that deflected off a BU defender and into the back of the net. Two minutes later Concordia tied it up scoring through traffic inside the box.
Despite being outshot 16-4 in the second half and 24-10 in the game, the Royals were determined to come away with a win in the end.
