Playoff Formula Reversed In Semifinals

ST. PETER, Minn. (11/04/15)—Concordia used the winning playoff formula in their quarterfinal win on Tuesday but had the roles reversed on Wednesday and lost 2-0 at Gustavus in the MIAC semifinals.

The Cobbers gave up a goal in the third minute of play and was never able to crack the Gustie defense and finished the 2015 season with their 13th consecutive trip to the conference semifinals.

Concordia ends the year with a 12-8 overall record.

In tournament elimination play one moment can turn the game and be the difference between advancing in the playoffs or ending the season. That moment on Wednesday came at the 2:45 mark of the opening half when Gustavus leading scorer Maddison Ackiss gave the Gusties a 1-0 lead and forced Concordia to chase the game for the final 87 minutes of play.

Gustavus was able to sit back on defense and not allow the Cobber offense to get chances behind the defense.

Concordia's best opportunity of the afternoon came in the 31st minute when Emily Wendorff picked off an errant pass in the Gustavus defensive third of the field. Wendorff dribbled the ball diagonally towards the goal from the left wing and her shot from 10 yards out just slid wide of the right post.

The other quality chances for the Cobbers in the game were from free kicks but shots from Wendorff or Alexandra Jones were stopped without a chance for a rebound.

Gustavus cemented the outcome in the ninth minute of the second half. A cross from the left wing bounced in the Cobber penalty area by the right side of the goal. No Concordia defender was able to play the ball out of harm's way and a Gustie attacker poked the ball home from two yards out.

The goal at 53:50 forced Concordia to change tactics and push more players forward in attack. Unfortunately they were unable to come up with a goal and were shutout for the fourth time in 2015.

Gustavus outshot the Cobbers 16-10 in overall shots and 8-4 in shots on goals. Jones had a team-high three shots in the game while Wendorff and Paige McCullough had two shots each.

Cobber goalie Elizabeth Bitzan made six saves in her final game for the Cobbers. She finishes her career with 35 wins, 22 shutouts and a goals against average of 0.98.