MOORHEAD, Minn. — If Saint Mary's University women's soccer coach Eric Zimmerman is looking for a scapegoat for his team's current two-game losing streak, he can pin it squarely on the shoulders of Mother Nature.
When the Cardinals picked up their first Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win of the season on Sept. 26, the temperatures were in the high 60s — and SMU's offense was sizzling.
Since then, the temperatures have dropped 20 degrees, and the Cardinals' offense has mistaken that decline as a signal to go into hibernation.
Concordia handed the Cardinals their second straight shutout loss Saturday, erupting for four second-half goals – including two by Sam Johnson – as the league-leading Cobbers rolled to a 4-0 conference victory.
"It was a tough second half," said SMU coach Eric Zimmerman. "We defended well in the first half, but weren't quick so air-tight in the second. We had too many defensive lapses, and against a team as good as (Concordia), those lapses turn into goals."
After a scoreless first half, the Cobbers' offense came to life, getting a pair of goals from Sam Johnson, another from Nicole Heideman and an SMU own goal in running their season –opening winning streak to 10 straight.
SMU goalkeeper Mariana Sanchez (Puebla, Mexico) finished with 10 saves for the Cardinals, who fell to 1-4-1 in the MIAC and 5-4-1 overall. Ali Nelson, meanwhile, did not have to make a save in recording the shutout, as the Cobber defense bottled the Cardinals up all afternoon.
The Cardinals are right back in action Sunday, playing host to Ripon in a 4 p.m. nonconference contest at Ochrymowycz Field.
"Offensively, we just weren't able to get anything going," said Zimmerman. "But give Concordia credit, they played a great game at both ends of the field."
