Playoff Experience Leads To Semifinal Win

MOORHEAD, Minn. (10/31/12)—Playoff games are often won by the team that doesn't make a big mistake and that was the case for Concordia in their 1-0 MIAC semifinal win over St. Ben's on Wednesday. The Cobbers used a 45-yard free kick goal to advance to their eighth conference championship in the past nine seasons. CC will now host Augsburg in the MIAC title game on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 2 p.m.

"It was nice having a lot of postseason experience coming into the game," remarked Concordia head coach Dan Weiler. "It helped us settle into our game plan right away and not have to deal with the nerves which sometime come from playing in a tournament situation.

The game swung around a harmless free kick from 45 yards out in the 14^th minute of play. Concordia sophomore defender Libby Fransdal stepped up and lofted a centering pass into the middle of the penalty area that sailed too long for any of the players on the field. The ball then sailed through the hands of the St. Ben's goalkeeper who tried to bat the ball away from the goal. It was Fransdal's fourth goal of the season and second in the past three games.

"Libby has been great at dead balls all season long," commented Weiler. She is very dangerous from anywhere inside 60 yards being able to put the ball on net or in the middle of the penalty area. It's nice to have that luxury on any situation in our offensive half of the field."

Concordia controlled play for the first 70 minutes of the game but then had to withstand a late-game flurry by the Blazers. St. Ben's didn't have a shot for the first 61:30 of the game but then eight shots in the final 28:30. Their best chance came on a point-blank shot off the foot of Ali O'Brien but Cobber keeper Ali Nelson was able to make a diving save to her left to keep CSB off the board.

"I thought Ali (Nelson) and the whole defense played really well today," said Weiler. "The defense stepped to the ball and prevented chances in the middle of the field and Ali came up with the one huge save late in the game. That is all you can ask for out of a goalie."

The Cobbers wound up outshooting St. Ben's 12-8 in total shots and 7-3 in shots on goal. Concordia held a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks for the game.

Nelson wound up stopping all three shots she faced to pick up her 10^th shutout of the season and fifth in the last seven games. St. Ben's keeper Megan Favorite made six saves.

Concordia will now turn their attention to the MIAC Championship game. The Cobber will host the Auggies on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. in a rematch of a game played on Oct. 23 which saw CC score two goals in the final 10 minutes of play to rally and win 2-1.