Saint Benedict, Concordia advance in MIAC Women's Soccer Playoffs

http://miac-online.org/news/2011/11/1/WSOC_1101113541.aspx

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The 2011 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Women's Soccer Playoffs got off to an exciting start Tuesday with two semifinal games that went right down to the wire with No. 1 Saint Benedict and No. 3 Concordia advancing to Saturday's title game.

The first semifinal was a rematch of the 2010 MIAC Playoff championship game, and this year's reincarnation had the same result, with No. 3 Concordia upsetting No. 2 Carleton, 1-0, on the Knights' home field. The Cobbers were the aggressors early, and it finally paid off at the 42:20 mark when Sarah Rounds took a ball that was served into the middle and connected from the center of the field for the game's only goal. It was Rounds' team-leading 13th goal of the season.

Carleton tried to fight back and tie the score in the second half, with several good scoring chances in the final 10 minutes of the game. However, Cobber goalie Ali Nelson came up with seven saves and faced six corner kicks without allowing a goal to earn the shutout. Rounds led Concordia with four shots and two shots on goal.

Carleton was led by Linly Vanderstaay's three shots and two shots on goal, and Niki Tomita also had a pair of shots on goal for the Knights. Carleton goalkeeper Beth Ashinsky made four saves and allowed just the one goal, but it wasn't enough in the 1-0 loss.

The other semifinal was even closer, as top-seeded Saint Benedict and No. 4 Macalester remained tied at 0-0 after regulation and two overtime periods. The Blazers were able to connect on two of their five penalty kicks in the shootout and CBS goalie Megan Favorite came up big in goal when it counted to help the regular-season co-champs advance to the championship.

Both Paige Olson and Ali O'Brien connected on their PKs - both in the lower right corner of the net - and the Scots couldn't convert any of their attempts after both teams went scoreless in 120 minutes of play. Favorite made 11 saves in the win, and Macalester goalkeeper Rosie Glenn-Finer made 12 stops for the Scots in the loss.

Colleen Bouchard led Saint Benedict with five shots and five shots on goal. Olson added three shots, two shots on goal and the first goal of the shootout, with O'Brien adding the insurance goal. Georgia Cloepfil led Macalester with seven shots and three shots on goal and Izzi Speer had three shots and two shots on goal for the Scots in the loss.

Tuesday's semifinal results set up Satuday's championship game between the Blazers - the top seed and conference co-champ - and the Cobbers, which won the Playoff title a year ago. Saint Benedict will host in St. Joseph at 1 p.m. Saturday and the winner will receive the MIAC's automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Playoffs.

2011 MIAC Women's Soccer Playoffs
Semifinals: Tuesday, Nov. 1
No. 1 Saint Benedict 0, No. 4 Macalester 0 (2OT) **CSB advances on PKs, 2-0 | Box Score |
No. 3 Concordia 1, No. 2 Carleton 0 . | Box Score |

Championship: Saturday, Nov. 5

No. 3 Concordia at No. 1 Saint Benedict – 1 p.m. – St. Joseph, Minn.

Courtesy of MIAC