Nelson Collects MIAC Player Of The Week Honors

MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/05/12)—Concordia senior goalie Ali Nelson was named the MIAC Player of the Week for her two-shutout performance in the MIAC Tournament last week. Nelson's tournament clean sheet helped the Cobbers add the conference playoff title to the league regular-season championship.

It is the first time this season that Nelson has won the conference weekly award. It is also the first time in her career that she has earned the honor.

Nelson didn't allow a goal in 200 minutes of action in the Cobbers' two tournament games. She stopped three shots against St. Ben's in the team's 1-0 semifinal win on Wednesday and then made two saves in Concordia's 0-0 penalty kick shootout win over Augsburg in the championship game on Saturday. In addition to her two saves during the course of play Nelson also stopped to penalty kicks in the shootout.

Nelson's biggest contributions during the two games came in her ability to organize the Cobber defense and regularly cut off through balls and crossing attempts. She also was a factor in the CC offense with her ability to deliver long distribution passes after she received the ball.

Nelson enters the NCAA Tournament as the MIAC leader in wins (15) and shutouts (10). She is also ranked third in the league in save percentage (.853) and goals against average (0.72) while finishing fourth with 87 saves.

Nelson is the school's all-time leader in career wins and shutouts. She has 55 career wins and 40 career shutouts.

Nelson and the rest of Concordia will play Lake Forest in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. The Cobbers are making their fourth consecutive trip to the national playoffs and sixth in the last seven seasons.