Concordia 3, Holy Cross 1

(October 25, 2008 - South Bend, Ind.) -- The hard work continues to pay off for the Concordia men's soccer team. Under the guidance of new coach Murali Nair, the Cardinals are now picking up the points they long sought after years of futility. Saturday afternoon was no exception as Concordia headed to South Bend and knocked off Holy Cross College 3-1 behind a pair of goals from Erik Schultz (Jr. - Belleville, Mich.). The Cards fell to Holy Cross by the same score in their only other meeting last season.

Schultz put the Cards up 1-0 in the 21st minute with an unassisted goal, picking up his second goal of the season.

The score would remain that way through halftime until Schultz would give Concordia some breathing room with a tally in the 61st minute, again unassisted. Romulo Nobrega would bring the Saints within one with a goal inthe 74th minute, one of only three shots on goal for the home team all game.

Yonathan Zeleke (Fr. - Lansing, Mich.) would return the lead to two as he scored an unassisted goal in the 80th minute to give the Cards a 3-1 lead with less than 10 minutes remaining. The goal was Zeleke's second of the season. The three goals are the most for Concordia since a 4-3 win over Grace Bible on Sept. 1, 2004.

The Concordia defense took it from there and kept Holy Corss from getting any quality scoring chances. Brian Kressbach (Jr. - Clinton Township, Mich.) earned the victory in net for Concordia finishing with two saves.

For Concordia (2-7-3), the win continues to show the necessary improvement for the Cardinals to start looking toward next season as one with great promise. But there is still work to be done this season, a campaign that has shown many great strides forward.

With the two wins and three ties, Concordia has registered nine points on the season - the most since the Cards had a trio of victories in 2002. The wins and ties also give the Cards five non-losses, which is the most since Concordia's eight-win season in 1997.

A testament to the improved play is their defense, which has surrendered one goal or fewer in five games this season, which is the most games allowing no more than a goal since 1997. With three games remaining, if Concordia can hold one of those opponents to no more than a goal, it will match the 1994 and 1988 totals of six games. If the Cardinals can hold two opponents to a maximum of one goal, it will tie the school record of seven games which was set in 1984.

Equally important for those three games is the very real possibility that the team picks up at least a win or a tie. By doing so, Concordia will finish with fewer than 10 losses for the first time since the team went 7-8 in the '88 season.

With the win, Concordia is beginning to get the one skill that is so crucial: confidence in themselves.