Soc vs. CSP 2024 NCAA Tournament
Brandon Dugan/MWSU Athletics
1
Concordia-St. Paul CSP (13-4-4, 10-3-1)
2
Winner Missouri Western MWSU (16-2-3, 10-1-2)
Concordia-St. Paul CSP
(13-4-4, 10-3-1)
1
Final
2
Missouri Western MWSU
(16-2-3, 10-1-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Concordia-St. Paul CSP 1 0 1
Missouri Western MWSU 1 1 2

Game Recap: Soccer |

No. 21 Soccer Secures First NCAA Tournament Win with 2-1 Victory Over Concordia-St. Paul

Knisley led the Griffs with a trio of points, including the game-winner

MANKATO, Minn. - Sophomore Kendall Knisley's three-point performance helped propel the No. 21 Griffons (16-2-3) to their first NCAA Tournament victory after securing a 2-1 win against Concordia-St. Paul (13-4-4) at The Pitch on the campus of Minnesota State University.
 
"I think getting the goal early really kind of boosted the spirits of our girls," head coach Jacob Plocher commented. "We had talked about it and liked the matchup, then conceding like we did just kind of helped us focus in."
 
"I am just pleased and proud of their fight, grit and determination to keep playing," Plocher added. "Like I've said before, this is a special group, and I am really proud of their performance today."
   
The Griffons struck first after Corrine Stewart netted her third goal of the season in the 18th minute, aided by assists from Elisabeth Pujado and Knisley. However, the Golden Bears quickly responded just five minutes later, as CSP's Brittany Bordson scored to level the match at 1-1. The score remained the same as the teams headed into halftime.
 
Both teams exchanged possessions to start the second half, but the Griffons eventually regained the lead when Knisley scored her third goal and first the game-winner of the season in the 70th minute, assisted by Pujado and Camrin Peaslee. Knisley finished with a match-leading five shots and three shots on goal.
 
Concordia battled till the end with four shots in the final fifteen minutes, three of which were saved by senior goalkeeper Keeley Kroonenberg. However, it wasn't enough, and the Griffons went on to secure a 2-1 victory. 
 
Kroonenberg (14-2-3) faced nine shots and made four saves for the Griffs in her 19th start of the season. Annie McDevitt, Nicoletta Froehlich, Stewart, Lauren Nylund and Brookelyn Buttolph each contributed to the victory with 90-minute performances.
 
MWSU will face the winner of No. 7 Minnesota State and St. Cloud State on Sunday. Kickoff from The Pitch in Mankato is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. For more information and updates, visit https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/soccer-women/d2/2024 or https://gogriffons.com/sports/womens-soccer.
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