Home Still Sweet in 3-0 Playoff Win

Box Score 

(11/3/07 - Men's Soccer) IRVINE - All-American Jeff Clark scored a pair of goals and set up the other as #3-seeded Concordia posted a 3-0 win over 4th-seeded Holy Names, Saturday afternoon in the semifinal round of the NAIA Region II Tournament.

The Eagles managed their second victory over the Hawks in three seasons, both of those coming in the regional semifinals. Concordia is now 6-0-1 in its last seven home playoff contests, including a 2-1 win over the Hawks in the 2005 postseason.

While the goals have started coming again for the Eagles in their last three games, Saturday saw the team tally one of its quickest goals of the season. Following a turnover in the Hawks' end, Clark picked up the ball and sent frontline partner Eric Mendoza in alone on goal. Mendoza slipped the ball around Andreas Lindstrom and fired into the empty net just 2:35 into the contest.

Despite the early goal, the Eagles were not out of the woods and would have to defend against a skilled Holy Names attack that scored 71 goals on the season. Mike Borst made both of his saves in the opening 45 minutes of play and thwarted several other dangerous attempts by snaring high balls played into the box. The backline also held strong and dealt with the pressure to keep the 1-0 halftime advantage.

Within the first 10 minutes after the intermission, the Eagles would have their second. Adrian Martinez started the move as he carried the ball through midfield and sent Jon Fahey racing down the left edge of the Hawks' penalty area. Fahey picked out Clark racing toward goal and the Eagles' all-time leading scorer added to his total with his 12th tally of the campaign.

Regardless of one's personal thoughts about the number 13, Clark will no doubt consider it lucky on this day as he put the game away with his second of the afternoon with his 13th strike of the season. Again it was Martinez that provided the service that allowed Clark to sprint toward the goal and bury a shot into the lower left corner too powerful for Lindstrom to turn around the post.

Concordia enjoyed a 10-8 shot advantage and might have had more goals, but the Hawks were effective for most of the day with their offsides trap that caused five offsides calls to go against the Eagles. Lindstrom finished with three saves for the Hawks (14-3-2).

Concordia (16-2) plays for the regional championship and an automatic berth to the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championships this Wednesday, November 7 at #2-seeded Fresno Pacific. The Sunbirds recorded a 2-1 overtime win against 8th-seeded Westmont, giving the Eagles a chance to avenge their 3-0 loss from two weeks ago.