Cobbers Clinch MIAC Playoff Spot

WINONA, Minn. (2/17/12)-- Madison Gendreau scored two goals and added two assists to help Concordia beat St. Mary's 5-2 and clinch an MIAC playoff spot. The Cobbers scored twice in the first period and never trailed in the game as they upped their overall record to 13-4-3. CC is now 9-3-3 in the MIAC and earned their second straight conference tournament berth.

The difference in the game turned out to be the play of the special teams. Concordia was 3-for-5 on the power play and held the Cardinals scoreless in their four man-advantage situations. It is the second time this season that Concordia has scored more than two power play goals in the game.

Concordia sophomore Breann Julius opened the scoring when she netted her team-leading 17^th goal of the season at the 8:13 mark of the opening period. Gendreau then scored the first of her two goals in the game when she connected on the power play at 16:27. Ali Nelson and Katelyn Dold picked up assists on the play. It would be the first of three points on the night for Nelson.

St. Mary's (6-12-4/5-9-3 MIAC) threatened to make a game of it by posting the first goal of the second period. The Cardinals scored at 3:49 and it would take CC almost 12 full minutes to put the game out of reach. Nelson notched her third goal of the year on the power play at 15:48 and then Brooke Rundell sealed the win with an even-strength tally at 18:50. Gendreau recorded assists on both goals while freshman defenseman Libby Fransdal collected an assist on Rundell's nugget.

The team then traded goals in the third frame to finish off the scoring. SMU got to within 4-2 at the 7:30 mark before Gendreau put an exclamation point on the win with a power play goal at 14:03. Nelson and Julius were credited with the assists. It was Gendreau's eighth goal of the year and her 19^th overall point. She needs one more point to become the fourth player on the team to record 20 points on the year.           

 The Cobbers outshot the Cardinals 28-17 in the game. Freshman goalie Becca Hendrickson stopped 15 shots to pick up her fourth straight win. She is now 5-0-0 on the year. St. Mary's netminder Sarah Gustafson made 23 saves but was saddled with her ninth loss of the season.

The same two teams will finish off their two-game series on Saturday, February 18 at 2 p.m. at St. Mary's