Box Score It didn't take long for the Colorado College men's soccer team to prove it deserves a place in the national rankings.
 
Junior defender Griffin Wesley and junior midfielder Robert Malone scored first-half goals and the Tigers held on for a 2-1 victory over No. 23 Luther College in the season opener for both teams on Friday night.
 
Wesley put CC on the board in the 11th minute when he scored the first goal of his career off of Cam Stopforth's corner kick which was deflected by senior forward Sam Markin.
 
Malone struck for what proved to be his sixth game-winning goal in the 34th minute off a touch from senior midfielder Tim Huettel.
 
The Norse dialed up the pressure in the second half and cut their deficit to one when Tyler Pieper scored in the 50th minute.
 
Despite being outshot 7-1 during the final 45 minutes, senior goalkeeper Theo Hooker and the Colorado College defense rose to the occasion and kept Luther off the board the rest of the way.
 
Hooker finished with five saves, while Carson Davenport made three for the Norse.
 
The Tigers wrap up their two-game Midwest trip on Sunday when they visit Wartburg College for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff.