MOORHEAD - Riley McGlynn is looking to return to his 2010 form when he tied Concordia's single-season school record with 42 points.
After a slow start, McGlynn rediscovered his scoring touch by converting a penalty kick in a 1-0 shutout victory over Augustana (Ill.) at the Cobber Invitational men's soccer tournament on Sunday.
"I was having some trouble finishing the ball this season," McGlynn said. "But I scored that penalty kick and that helped."
McGlynn started play about 30 yards out on the left side of the net. He passed the ball perfectly to Jared Rice, who was cutting across diagonally to the net.
Augustana goalkeeper Tyler Cowherd took down Rice and was given a yellow card. McGlynn took the penalty kick and blasted a shot into the top right corner of the net.
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"We're going to get some goals out of Riley," Concordia head coach Dan Weiler said. "He's become a staple on our front line."
In 2010, McGlynn not only tied a school record for points, but he also led the MIAC in overall scoring with 16 goals and 10 assists. McGlynn, a senior from Hampstead, N.C., knows it will be difficult to duplicate his success from last season, but he's going to try.
Goalkeeper Peter Runquist and the Cobber defense kept the Aggies off the board.
"Our defense was on fire today," McGlynn said. "They were stopping everything Augustana put forth."
Runquist made eight saves for the Cobbers (3-2-0) including a spectacular diving save to his right with 30 minutes left in the second half.
The defense neutralized a dangerous Augustana offense, clearing corner kicks and preventing Aggies forwards from converting on scoring chances.
The Aggies (2-2-0) took eight corner kicks and put up eight shots on net, but couldn't find the back of the net.
"Our guys put up a good fight," Augustana head coach Brenton Joseph said. "We're going to go back to practice and fix a few things up."
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Tensions ran high late in the game when Augustana was awarded a free kick in front of the Cobber net. John McSpadden took the free kick, but Concordia defenders swarmed the ball and blocked it down low before clearing it from the box.
"We were fortunate to get a goal in the first half and our defense held strong," Weiler said. "That's really the game in a nutshell."
FIRST HALF: 1, CC, McGlynn, 10:15 (pk).
SECOND HALF: No scoring.
SAVES: A, Cowherd 2. CC, Runquist 8.
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