Tie Sets Up Playoff Showdown

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (2/16/18)---Concordia and Augsburg lit the lamp four times during the first 15 minutes of their series opener but then went scoreless over the final 50 minutes and settled for a 2-2 overtime tie.

The one point for the tie keeps Concordia ahead of St. Mary's and Bethel in the race for the final two playoff spots in the MIAC. The Cobbers have 6-7-4 conference record for 16 points which is two better than the Cardinals and Royals. All three teams have one game remaining in the regular season. Concordia only needs one point to earn their eighth straight MIAC playoff spot.

The Cobbers (9-11-4/6-7-4 MIAC) fell behind in the first seven minutes of the opening period when Augsburg netted a power play goal at 6:03.

Senior captain Tori Davis made sure the early-game deficit didn't last very long as she tied the game at 1-1 just 21-seconds later. Davis notched her 12th goal of the year at the 6:24 mark.

Concordia then took the lead midway through the period when freshman Josee Lundgren scored the second unassisted Cobber goal of the game. She connected on an even-strength strike at 9:39 to give CC a 2-1.

Augsburg (14-6-4/7-4-4 MIAC) finished off the scoring in the game when they tied the score in the final five minutes of the first frame. The Auggies scored an even-strength goal at 15:53 and the teams would then skate to the locker room knotted at 2-2.

The Cobbers and Auggies then combined to put up 34 shots in the final two periods and overtime but neither team could get the puck past the two goalies.

Augsburg outshot Concordia 30-16 in the game and Cobber goalie Brittany Boss made 28 saves to earn her fourth tie of the season.

Davis and Amanda Flemming were the only Concordia players with more than one shot in the game. Davis put up three shots on goal while Flemming finished with two shots.

The Cobbers went 0-for-2 on the power play in the game as compared to 1-for-4 for the Auggies.

TOUGH TIE-BREAKER TIMES: Unfortunately for the Cobbers they would lose out on the tie-breaker procedure if there is a three-way tie for fifth, sixth and seventh places. If Concordia, St. Mary's and Bethel all tie with 16 points then the first tie-breaker would be head-to-head competition. In that scenario Bethel would earn the No.5 spot as they are 2-1-1 against the Cobbers and Cardinals. CC is 1-2-1 against the other teams and St. Mary's is 2-2-0 which would leave CC on the outside looking in at the playoffs.

A TIE FOR THE WIN! Concordia would gladly take their fifth tie of the season on Saturday as it would give them 17 league points and earn them the No.4 seed, and a home playoff game, in the conference tournament. It would also tie, no pun intended, the school record for most tie games in a season. The 2-12 Cobbers went 15-6-5 and ended the year with five tie scores.

WHAT'S NEXT: The final game of the regular season will determine Concordia's playoff fate. The Cobbers will play at Augsburg on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 2 p.m.