Cobber MIAC Playoff Primer
MOORHEAD, Minn. (2/25/14)—Concordia is
one of only two schools in the MIAC to have all four winter sports
teams playing in the conference playoffs. The Cobber women’s
basketball team will host a quarterfinal game on Tuesday. The
men’s basketball, women’s hockey and men’s hockey
teams will all hit the road for conference tournament games
throughout the week.
Here is all the information you will need to get caught up on all
the Concordia MIAC playoff action.
Women’s
Basketball – MIAC Quarterfinals
No.3 Seed Augsburg (14-11) at No.3 Seed Concordia
(15-10) – Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m.
Live Links: Live Video | Live Audio | Live Stats
How They Got Here: Concordia will be making
its 13th consecutive MIAC playoff appearance. The Cobbers won five
of their final seven regular-season games to climb all the way to
the No.3 seed for the playoffs. It is the seventh straight season
they have finished in the top 3 in the MIAC standings. CC is 9-3 at
home this season. The Auggies are participating in their first-ever
conference tournament game. Augsburg won four of its six games in
February, after going 4-5 in 
January, to earn the No.6 seed. The Auggies are 8-6 on the road
this season.
Regular-Season Match-Up: The Cobbers and Auggies split their regular-season match-up with each team coming away with a win at home. Augsburg claimed a 59-50 victory in Minneapolis on Jan. 17 and then Concordia returned the favor with a 69-53 win on Saturday. The difference between the two games was CC’s ability to shoot the ball from outside the arc in their win at home. At Augsburg, Concordia connected on 4-of-19 (21.1%) of their 3-point attempts while on Saturday they were 11-for-21 (52.4%). The Auggies were led in both games by the tandem of Jessica Lillquist and Abbey Luger. Lillquist had 18 points at home and 14 points in Moorhead while Luger went for 17 and 16. Alley Fisher had the highest combined point total for the Cobbers in both games. She scored 18 points in the first game and then had 16 on Saturday. Olivia Johnson had a ggame-high 17 points for CC in the win in Moorhead.
Statistically Speaking: Concordia averaged 64.4
ppg in their 18 league games and were sixth in the MIAC. The
Cobbers allowed an average of 58.5 ppg in conference games and were
also sixth. Augsburg scored 55.4 ppg and was 10th while defensively
they allowed 58.3 ppg and were also 10th…Concordia led the
MIAC in free throw percentage (80.1%) and 3-point field goal
percentage (37.8%) while the Auggies led the league in lowest
opponent 3-point field goal percentage (27.7%) and were second in
steals per game (10.1).
Prime Time Performers: Concordia has three
players averaging at least 9.0 points for the season and is led by
senior guard Alley Fisher. Fisher is
averaging a career-best 15.6 points per game and the Cobbers are
12-2 this season when she scores more than 15 points in a game. She
leads the MIAC in 3-point field goal percentage (42.9%) and is
fourth in points per game. Fellow senior Erin
Januschka is second on the team in scoring with a 9.8 ppg
average and Olivia Johnson is right behind,
averaging 9.6 ppg. Johnson leads the MIAC in free throw percentage
(89.7%). The Auggies are led by the two-headed scoring tandem
of Abbey Luger and Jessica
Lillquist. They are the only two players averaging more
than 8.0 ppg for Augsburg. Luger has 12.7 ppg average and is fifth
in the MIAC in assists (87) and steals (72) while Lillquist is
averaging 12.2 ppg and has scored in double figures in six straight
games.
MIAC Women's Basketball Tournament Page
Men’s
Basketball – MIAC Quarterfinals
No.5 Seed Concordia (15-10) at No.4 Seed Bethel (17-8) –
Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m.
Live Links: Live
Video | Live
Audio | Live
Stats
How They Got Here: Concordia is making its
second MIAC playoff appearance in the last three seasons. The
Cobbers haven’t won a conference playoff game since the 2004
season. CC went 6-4 in in the second half of the conference season
which included huge home wins over No.2-ranked St. Thomas and
Gustavus. Concordia is 6-7 on the road this year. Bethel is making
its 14th MIAC playoff appearance in the last 16 seasons. The Royals
are hosting their first tournament game since the 2009 season. BU
won five of its last six games in the regular season to earn the
home playoff game. The Royals are 9-2 at home this year.
Regular Season Match-Up: The Cobbers and
Royals traded eight-point wins in the regular season with both
teams holding serve at home. Concordia led for the final 30 minutes
of the first game in Moorhead on Jan. 7 and used a 14-1 run in the
first half to claim an 80-72 victory. Bethel then scored on its
first six possessions of the second half in the return game in
Arden Hills on Feb. 9 and won 74-66.
Statistically Speaking: Concordia was eight in the
MIAC in scoring in conference games. The Cobbers averaged 62.4 ppg
in their 20 league games. CC allowed 62.1 ppg and was also eighth
in points allowed. Bethel was fourth in scoring average, netting
71.6 ppg. On defense the Royals were also fourth in points allowed
at 66.2 ppg…Concordia’s top statistical categories
came from rebounding and 3-point field goal percetange. The Cobbers
were fourth in defensive rebounds per game (22.9) and fifth in
total rebounds per game (32.4). CC was fifth in 3-point field goal
percentage (34.3%). Bethel led the MIAC in steals and blocks per
game. The Royals are averaging 7.5 steals and 5.0 blocks per game.
BU was also second in free throws attempted per game (19.0) and
free throws made per game (13.1).
Prime Time Performers: Concordia’s
top players during the two games between the teams were also the
Cobbers’ top two performers during the regular season.
Jordan Bolger and Brandon Giese
led CC in both games against Bethel. Bolger leads the Cobbers in
scoring and rebounding. He is averaging a career-high 14.8 points
per game and 8.2 rebounds per game. Bolger is third in the MIAC in
scoring and third in total rebounds. Brandon Giese had 19 points in
both games against the Royals this year. He finished the regular
season by averaging a career-best 12.0 ppg. He is third in the MIAC
in 3-point field goals made (38). Bethel is led by senior
Kyle Zimmerman who is averaging 17.2 points and
9.3 rebounds per game. Both totals led the conference during the
regular season. Zimmerman averaged 17.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in
the two games between BU and CC this year. Brycen Wojta is second
on the team in scoring with a 14.6 ppg average. He is third in the
league in free throw percentage (80.7%).
MIAC Men's Basketball Tournament Page
Women’s
Hockey – MIAC Semifinals
No.3 Seed Concordia (10-12-3) at No.2 Seed St.
Thomas (12-9-4) – Saturday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m.
Live Links: Live Video | Live Stats
How They Got Here: Concordia is making its
fifth consecutive MIAC playoff appearance. The Cobbers have also
advanced to the MIAC semifinal game for five straight seasons and
six times in the last eight years. Concordia is 2-3 in their past
five trips to the conference semifinals. The Cobbers earned their
trip to the postseason by coming up with a program-record 10-game
unbeaten streak at the end of the year. CC went 7-0-3 from Jan. 16
to Feb. 14. During that time they went from the bottom of the
league standings all the way to third place. The Cobbers are 5-10-2
on the road this year. St. Thomas is making its 15th consecutive
appearance in the MIAC playoffs. The Tommies earned their No.2 seed
by going 6-3-3 in the final 12 games of the regular 
season. UST is 7-4-1 at home this season.
Regular Season Match-Up: The Cobbers and
Tommies split their regular-season series in Moorhead at the
beginning of December. St. Thomas scored a goal in the first four
minutes of each period in the first game and claimed a 4-2 win.
Concordia then won a defensive battle in the series finale 2-1 as
both teams combined for only 26 shots on goal.
The Cobbers and Tommies are very familiar with one another in the
playoffs. Concordia and St. Thomas are meeting in the semifinals of
the MIAC playoffs for the fourth straight season. The Cobbers hold
a 2-1 edge in the three previous games.
Statistically Speaking: Concordia was third
in the MIAC in goals per game in conference contests. The Cobbers
averaged 3.00 goals in their 18 league games. CC was seventh in
goals allowed in the MIAC this year. Concordia gave up 2.06 goals
per game. St. Thomas was just ahead of CC in scoring with a 3.11
goals per game average. The Tommies were also second on the
defensive end, giving up 1.50 goals per conference game. The
Cobbers own the second best power play unit in the MIAC, succeeding
at a 25.0% rate. CC is fourth in penalty kill (86.4%) and second
overall in special teams net (+9). St. Thomas is third on the power
play (18.0%) and sixth on the penalty kill (83.9%) for a
third-place finish in special teams net (+3). Concordia’s
highest scoring period is the first (20) while St. Thomas has
scored 24 goals in the third period.
Prime Time Performers: Concordia owns the
top point scorer, second best goal scorer and top assist maker in
the conference in MIAC games. Senior captain Maddy
Gendreau is enjoying the best season of her career. She
led the MIAC in points (24) and assists (15) in league games. She
enters the postseason having scored a goal in five of the past
seven games and posting at least one point in 10 consecutive games.
Linemate Kelsey Vandegrift was second in the
conference in goals scored and led the conference in game-winning
goals. She put up 11 goals in the 18 conference games with four of
those 11 being the game-winning variety. She had her seven-game
scoring streak ended in the final game of the regular season.
St. Thomas is led by junior Courtney Umland who
finished right behind Gendreau in the league’s scoring race
for conference games. Umland had nine goals and 12 assists for 21
points. In overall games she put up 19 assists and is 12th in the
nation in assists per game. Junior Megan
Juricko led the MIAC in scoring by a defenseman in a
league games (11 points) while freshman goalie Paige
Kittelson was second in goals against average.
MIAC Women's Hockey Tournament
Page
Men’s
Hockey – MIAC Semifinals
No.3 Seed Concordia (13-8-4) at No.2 Seed St.
Mary’s – Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.
Live Links: Live
Video | Live
Stats
How They Got Here: Concordia will be making
its third straight MIAC playoff appearance and fourth in the last
five season seasons. The Cobbers are 1-3 in their previous four
trips to the conference tournament. CC advanced to the league title
game back in 2011. CC went 3-1-1 in its last five games of the
regular season and posted a 6-3-1 record against conference
opponents since December. Concordia is 10-0-3 on Saturdays this
year and 6-4-2 on the road. St. Mary’s is making its first
conference playoff appearance since 2004 and only second appearance
since 1996. The Cardinals won the MIAC tournament championship in
1989 and again in 1995 and is 11-11 in 
conference tournament games.
Regular Season Match-Up: The teams split
their series in Winona in the final games of the regular season for
Concordia. The Cobbers never led in the opener and gave up a goal
in the second minute of overtime to lose 4-3. CC then exploded for
eight goals in the finale and won 8-3. Concordia received goals
from seven different players and scored a shorthanded goal, power
play goal and five even-strength goals in the game.
Statistically Speaking: Concordia was fourth in the
MIAC in goals scored per game this season. CC averaged 3.00 goals
per game in their 16 conference games. The Cobbers were second in
the MIAC in goals allowed per game – giving up a scant 2.31
goals per game. St. Mary’s led the league in goals scored
this year. SMU netted 3.50 goals per conference game. The Cardinals
were fifth on defense as they allowed 2.75 goals per game.
Concordia was sixth on the power play at 14.5% and eighth in
penalty kill (81.1%). Those two figures put the Cobbers fourth in
special teams net (+2) for MIAC games. St. Mary’s connected
on 17.2% of their power play attempts and was fourth in the league.
They were also fifth on the penalty kill (84.5%) which had them
sixth in special teams net (-1). The Cobbers’ best period of
play is the second where they scored 19 goals while the Cardinals
scored 20 goals in the third period.
Prime Time Performers: Concordia had three
players finish in the top 15 in scoring in conference play.
Sophomore Jeremy Johnson led the team in scoring
with six goals and nine assists for 15 points in 16 league games.
He finished the regular season by recording at least one point in
five of the last seven games of the year. He had a career-high
three points in the team’s win over St. Mary’s on the
least day of the regular season. Tucker Coborn and
Jordie Bancroft both had 13 points in conference
play. Bancroft tied for the league lead in power play goals (3).
Both of Concordia’s netminders were in the top 5 in goals
against average and save percentage. Jordyn Kaufer
was second in GAA at 2.11 and fifth in save percentage (91.9%)
while Alex Reichle was fourth in GAA (2.36) and
second in save percentage (92.5%). The turnaround for St.
Mary’s has been sparked by the play of sophomore
Martin Gruse. Gruse finished tied for third in the
MIAC in scoring in league games with 11 goals and eight assists for
19 points. He had at least one point in five straight games to
finish off the season. Fellow sophomore Bob Kinne
had a huge two-game series last weekend to help SMU secure the No.2
seed. Kinne had a hand in six of the nine goals scored on the
weekend as he three assists on Friday vs. Hamline and then three
goals on Saturday. He finished tied for seventh in the MIAC in
scoring with 17 points. A third sophomore Mike
Mezzano tied for the league lead in scoring by a
defenseman (16 pts.) and first-year player Chad
Cesarz was second in scoring by a freshman (13 pts.).
MIAC Men's Hockey Tournament
Page