Cobber MIAC Playoff Primer
MOORHEAD, Minn. (2/25/14)—Concordia has
three teams gearing up for the MIAC playoffs. The Cobbers will host
postseason games in women’s basketball and women’s
hockey and hit the road for an away game in men’s hockey.
Here is all the information you will need to get caught up on all
the Concordia MIAC playoff action
Women’s
Basketball – MIAC Semifinals
No.3 Seed St. Thomas (22-4) at No.2 Seed Concordia (21-4) –
Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m.
How They Got Here: Concordia will be making its
12th consecutive MIAC playoff appearance. The Cobbers
won 15 of their final 16 regular-season games to climb all the way
to the No.2 seed for the playoffs. St. Thomas is making its eighth
consecutive conference playoff appearance. Last year Concordia lost
to UST in the MIAC tournament championship game. The Tommies have
won 10 of their last 11 games entering the semifinal match-up. UST
advanced to the semifinals by beating Gustavus 66-51 in the first
round on Tuesday. That game was tied 46-46 with 5-minutes left to
play before St. Thomas went on the game-winning 20-5 run.
Regular-Season Match-Up: The Cobbers won both
games in the regular season. Concordia claimed a 71-58 win in the
first game in St. Paul and then earned the sweep by recording a
60-57 victory on Feb. 15 in Moorhead. The Cobbers were behind St.
Thomas at the half in both games. In the first game, CC erased an
11-point deficit early in the second half and in the second game
Concordia rallied from seven points down in the second half.
Statistically Speaking: Concordia led the MIAC in
points per game and rebound margin per game. The Cobbers scored
73.4 points per conference contest and outrebounded their MIAC foes
by an average of 10.5 per game. CC was fourth in the league
in opponent’s points per game (58.2). Concordia was second in
the MIAC in field goal percentage (43.4%), 3-point field goal
percentage (35.5%) and free throw percentage (75.8%). The Tommies
averaged 69.3 points per MIAC game and were second in the
conference in that category. St. Thomas led the MIAC in fewest
points allowed per game (49.0). UST was first in the MIAC in field
goal percentage (45.9%) and 3-point field goal percentage (36.2%)
and third in free throw percentage (74.4%).
Prime Time Performers (PTPers): Concordia
has three players averaging in double figures for the season and is
led by junior guard Alley Fisher. Fisher is
averaging 12.0 points per game and the Cobbers are 16-0 this season
when she scores in double figures. She leads the MIAC in free throw
percentage (87.8%) and 3-point field goal percentage (44.3%).
Senior center Alexandra Lippert is second in the
MIAC in field goal percentage (51.0%) and third in blocks (58). The
Tommies have four players averaging in double figures and are led
by senior center Maggie Weiers who is averaging
13.7 points per game. Teammate Katie Stone led the
MIAC in 3-point field goals in all games (61) and had a career-high
21 points in the team’s first-round win over Gustavus.
MIAC Women's Basketball Tournament
Page
Women’s
Hockey – MIAC First Round
No.5 Seed St. Catherine (11-13-1) at No.4 Seed Concordia (12-9-4)
– Friday, Feb. 28 at 5 p.m.
How They Got Here: Concordia is making its fourth
consecutive MIAC playoff appearance. The Cobbers advanced to the
MIAC title game last year after beating St. Thomas 2-1 in the
semifinals. CC went 10-1-1 in their final 12 games of the regular
season on a playoff-clinching drive that started on Jan. 17. St.
Catherine is making its second consecutive conference tournament
appearance. The Wildcats were also the No.5 seed last season and
lost 3-2 to Bethel in the first round game. SCU lost five of its
last six MIAC games but made their hay at the start of the season
when they went 4-1-1 in the league before the Christmas break.
Regular Season Match-Up: The Cobbers and Wildcats
played last weekend with Concordia posting a pair of shutouts over
St. Catherine. CC scored a pair of goals 45-seconds apart in the
first period of the opener and went on to claim a 3-0 win. The
second game was all about the power play as the Cobbers went
3-for-6 in man-advantage situations while holding the Wildcats
scoreless in their seven PP attempts and won 4-0.
Statistically Speaking: Concordia led the MIAC in
fewest goals allowed in conference play this season. The Cobbers
gave up only 24 goals in 18 league games. CC had eight shutouts on
the year which was the most in the league and tied for third in the
nation. Concordia was fifth in scoring offense (42), third on the
power play (17.7%) and second in penalty kill (91.2%). The
Cobbers’ best period is the first where they are outscoring
their opponents 19-7. St. Catherine was fifth in the MIAC in goals
allowed (45) and seventh in goals scored (35). SCU was also seventh
on the power play (14.9%) and seventh in penalty kill (79.1%). The
Wildcats’ best period is the opener as well as they have been
outscored 11-10.
Prime Time Performers (PTPers):
Concordia’s top players come from the defensive end
with both goalies ranked in the top 5 in goals against average and
save percentage. Freshman Andrea Klug leads the MIAC in both GAA
(1.00) and save percentage (96.1%) while Madison Denny is fifth in
GAA (1.48) and third in save percentage (94.5%). Klug is also
second in the nation in both categories. Offensively the Cobbers
are led by junior center Madison Gendreau and
freshman forward Bri Flynn. Gendreau has seven
goals and eight assists for 15 points while Flynn has 10 goals and
four assists for 14 points. Flynn was third in the MIAC for scoring
by a freshman. St. Catherine has four players in double figures in
scoring and is led by junior Bailey Rasmussen. She
has eight goals and three assists for 11 points. She tied for the
league lead in both power-play goals (4) and game-winning goals
(4). Sophomore defenseman Mallory Ryan was tied for ninth in the
MIAC in points by a defenseman (6).
MIAC Women's Hockey Tournament
Page
Men’s
Hockey – MIAC First Round
No.5 Seed Concordia (12-8-5) at No.4 Seed St. Olaf – Friday,
Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m.
How They Got Here: Concordia will be making its
second straight MIAC playoff appearance and third in the last four
seasons. The Cobbers lost in the conference semifinals last year as
the No.3 seed. CC needed a last-minute goal by St. Olaf to earn a
spot in the playoffs. Concordia lost only twice in its least league
games and played an unbelievable seven overtime games in league
play. St. Olaf is making its third straight MIAC tournament
appearance. The Oles lost in the first round of last year’s
conference playoffs. St. Olaf went 8-1-1 in its last 10 MIAC games
to earn a spot in the postseason. They played in five overtime
games against league opponents.
Regular Season Match-Up: The teams played earlier
in February in Northfield with both games going to overtime. The
teams traded goals in regulation of the first game with St. Olaf
netting the game winner at 2:27 of overtime and prevailing 5-4. The
second game was just as tight with the teams skating to a 2-2 tie
in overtime but the Oles claimed the extra point by winning the
overtime shootout. Neither team has had more than a one-goal lead
in the 127 minutes played in the regular season.
Statistically Speaking: Concordia was fifth in
both goals scored and goals allowed in conference play. The Cobbers
scored 46 goals in 16 league games and gave up 45 goals. CC was
also fourth on the power play (18.2%) and fourth in penalty kill
(83.6%). Concordia’s only period where they outscored their
opponents was the second where they held a 14-11 edge. St. Olaf was
second in the MIAC in scoring in conference games (51) and fourth
in goals allowed (38). The Oles led the conference on the power
play (27.5%) and were seventh in penalty kill (78.4%). St.
Olaf’s best period is the third where they hold a 19-11
advantage.
Prime Time Performers (PTPers): Concordia
has the top 2 overall point getters in the MIAC this season and two
of the top 5 in conference play. Junior forward Andrew
Deters led the MIAC in total points with 32 (9g-22a) and
was tied for first in points in conference play (19). Senior
defenseman Caleb Suderman was second in overall
scoring with 30 points (16g-14a) and tied for fifth in MIAC points
(17). Suderman also led the nation in points by a defenseman. St.
Olaf is led by senior forward Dan Cecka who was
third in overall points with 29 (17g-12a) and tied for first in
points in conference play (19). Freshman Steve
Sherman led the MIAC in power play points with eight while
sophomore forward Peter Lindblad is the favorite
Ole among Cobber fans as he scored the game-tying goal against
Augsburg to put Concordia into the playoffs. Lindblad finished tied
for second in the MIAC in goals scored in league play with 10.
MIAC Men's Hockey Tournament
Page