NORTHFIELD, Minn. – In a hard-fought game, the Carleton College women's soccer team held on to beat Concordia College, 2-1, with a goal from senior forward Nora Mertz (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) proving to be the difference.
 
The Knights (5-2-1, 1-1 MIAC) finished with a 10-6 advantage in shots over the visiting Cobbers (6-3-0, 0-3 MIAC), and controlled the ball for most of the match, finishing with 54% of the possession.
 
After having an early effort stuffed, Rainey Tilley (Fy./South Pasadena, Calif./S. Pasadena) was gifted a second-chance in the 14th minute when a goalkeeping error led to a wide open net for her to put the opening goal in. Mertz sent a dangerous ground cross into the box, and the knuckling ball bounced off the keeper's gloves and into Tilly's path for an easy tap in.
 
Building off the opener, Mertz continued to give the Concordia backline fits, scoring her fourth goal of the season in the 18th minute. The score came off a beautifully curled shot from the end-line to the right of the goal and off the keeper into the top left of the net. In addition to providing necessary insurance, Mertz's 24th career score moved her into sole possession of fourth place on Carleton's career scoring chart.
 
The Cobbers got the game back within one in the 68th minute when a long throw from Hannah Sandin was headed by Klara Beinhorn with her back to the net into the right of the goal.
Over the final 20 minutes the pace of the match ratcheted up to another level, but both defenses held strong and the game ended with no further scoring.
 
Anna Roethler (Jr./St. Louis Park, Minn./St. Lois Park) and Lilly Danna (Jr./Los Angeles, Calif./Los Angeles CES) split the game in net for Carleton, playing the first and second halves respectively.
 
UP NEXT FOR THE KNIGHTS: The Knights look to continue their promising start to the year with a  4p.m. contest on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at Hamline University.