Goal Revoked as CLU Falls in Second Round

WAVERLY, Iowa- A controversial off-sides call was the difference in Sunday night’s game as Cal Lutheran’s equalizing goal was nullified by the penalty, allowing Concordia-Moorhead to slip by the Regals 3-2 in a wind-swept NCAA Division III second round match.

“One of the most bizarre things I’ve ever seen in a soccer game,” coach Frank Marino said.

Down 2-1 just before halftime, Taylor Will played a perfect pass through two defenders to Mayra Virgen. Virgen then narrowly sent a pass across the goal to Kristina Hulse, who flicked it just past the Cobber goalkeeper for what looked like the game-tying goal.

The players jogged back and Concordia-Moorhead began to set up for following the kickoff.

However, just before play restarted, the side-judge called over the main official and eventually the two other officials. After a lengthy discussion, the goal was nullified as the official stated Hulse was in front of the two defenders when Virgen sent the pass in, making her offside.

“I think that call really took the wind out of our sails,” Marino said.

“We had played hard up to that point and we finally had the tying goal. It’s just really hard to our girls’ season end on something like that.”

Cal Lutheran had fallen behind early, allowing a goal 35 seconds into the game.

“I thought the elements really affected us getting started tonight. You could definitely tell which team had played in southern California all season and which had played in Minnesota,” the head coach said.

“But that early goal didn’t faze us and I was proud of the way we came back.”

However, Concordia-Moorhead would respond with one of Sarah Rounds’ three goals on the day, this one coming in the 21^st minute and giving the Cobbers their second lead of the game at 2-1.

With Hulse’s goal being discarded, the 2-1 score held going into halftime.

Rounds would come through again in the 60^th minute for the Cobbers notching her third goal of the game as she finessed a goal into the bottom right corner of the goal and giving Concordia-Moorhead a 3-1 advantage.

CLU would frantically try to claw back into the match firing off seven shots before finally breaking through when Will was taken down in the penalty box setting up a penalty-kick. The SCIAC’s leading scorer converted the PK as the sophomore scored her fourth goal in just two post-season games.

Unfortunately, it was too little too late as Concordia-Moorhead held on for the victory and advanced to the Sweet-Sixteen.

Despite the outcome, coach Marino gushed about the 2012 team, “A lot of people thought we’d have a down year this year or not have as good of results as we’ve had the past few years, but look, we won 18 games and made it into the second round of the NCAA tournament.”

“This team should be very proud of its season and I am very proud of them.”

With her four goals in her past two games, Will upped her season total to 18.

Sophomore goalkeeper Kristin Bailey came up with four saves.

Seniors Kirsten DiPippo, Lindsay Armenta, Dani Granholm, Kristin Cameron, Mayra Virgen and Nicole Rains were a part of a class that won 69 games including three straight SCIAC regular season championships and NCAA playoff appearances while losing just two SCIAC games in their final three years.

Box Score: CCM 3 CLU 2