Concordia-St. Paul 1 Wayne State 0

            In an even match throughout the contest, Wayne State fell victim to a late goal from Concordia-St. Paul in a 1-0 loss in the final home game of the 2018 campaign Friday afternoon at the WSC Soccer Pitch.  The loss dropped Wayne State to 4-11-1 (4-9-1 NSIC) while the visitors moved to 10-4-3 (7-4-3 NSIC) on the season.
            With no breakthrough in the first 25 minutes, the battle of the midfield and occasional Wildcat set pieces highlighted the action. All three of the Wildcat shots were created off of a set piece, forcing the Golden Bear keeper into two early saves to keep the score level.
            The rest of the first half continued how it began, with few and far between opportunities for both sides. The Wildcats held their opponent to only one shot for the second straight half of soccer going back to the second half of the Minnesota Crookston game, holding a 5-1 advantage. Wildcat keeper Rachel Grisham played spectator for the majority of the opening 45 minutes.
            It took only a thirty seconds into the second half for Grisham to be called into her first save of the game, diving well to her left to hold on to a Golden Bear shot. Called into action nine minutes later, Grisham again showed safe hands in holding on to a low driven shot.
            After three straight shots from Concordia-St. Paul, Wayne State found some offense through the head of Christina Stasi. After narrowly missing wide in the 57th minute, Stasi forced a save out of the Golden Bear keeper from a looping header from a cross from the right side.
            After 25 minutes of scrappy play from the midfield, the visitors took the lead in the 82nd minute after a cross found the head of Brooke Salo in what turned to be the eventual game winner for Concordia-St. Paul.
            "Very even game between two even teams," said head coach Joe Cleary. "They finished their best chance at the end and we didn't finish our best chances early in the first and second halves."
            The Golden Bears edged the advantage in shots by a 9-8 margin (8-3 in second half) while both teams recorded four corner kicks.
            Stasi led the team with three shots, including one on target. Megan Schuster and Carleigh Wilson also recorded shots on goal, while Grisham ended the day with four saves.
            The Wildcats finish their season on Sunday afternoon when they take on #21 Minnesota State on the road. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Mankato, Minnesota.