ST. PAUL, Minn. -  Last week the Concordia-St. Paul soccer team (10-7-1, 8-6-1 NSIC) clinched a spot in the NSIC playoff tournament with a 1-0 win over Winona State. Their NSIC record was good for a sixth place finish in the conference standings, which lines them up to play the three seed in the tournament, the Augustana Vikings (12-2-4, 11-1-3 NSIC), on November 1^st at 3 p.m. in Sioux Falls.
 
This season, the Golden Bears have recorded the most conference wins in a season, winning more NSIC games than any other team in Concordia's Division II history. This season also marks the third time that CSP has won ten or more total games in a season and the first time they have done so since 2006.
 
This is the second appearance in the post-season for the Golden Bears in the last three years and their eighth trip overall. In addition to their trip in 2015, the Bears also made the playoffs six times in a seven year span from 2003-2009, only missing the tournament in the 2008 season. In all of their playoff appearances, the Bears hold a 2-6 record, winning two games in the 2006 tournament against Minnesota State Moorhead and Wayne State College.
 
In 2015, the Bears traveled to the top-seeded team, Minnesota State, who was ranked sixth in the country at the time. In that matchup, CSP fell behind early, as MSU scored twice in the first twenty minutes of the game. With under three minutes to go before halftime, McKenzie Buck would score for the Bears, with Kelli Heytens getting the assist, to make it 2-1 at the break. The Mavericks exploded in the second half, scoring four goals to put the game out of reach, but Jordan Rowan-Stafford would add an unassisted goal in the 65^th minute to make the final 6-2.
 
This will be the first time that CSP will matchup with Augustana in an NSIC tournament game, as Concordia holds a 2-9-1 record in their series history with the Vikings. Earlier this season, the Bears fell to Augustana 5-2 in a game that the Vikings were awarded with two penalty kicks, which accounted for their first and last goals in the game. CSP held the shot advantage in the game (18-14) and outshot the other team 14-7 in the second half. The Concordia offense created chances all game, including Rowan-Stafford hitting the crossbar and Heytens heading a corner kick that went just wide. Junior Jade Weller and freshman Kiara Myers each scored a goal apiece in the second half. Myers finished a corner kick play for her first collegiate goal and Weller scored her goal from well outside the box, taking a pass and lifting a goal right over the goalie's head. The Bears' comeback ran out of time, as time dwindled down and the score ended 5-2. Myers led the offensive effort that game, taking six shots, three of which were on goal.
 
In the last weekend of the regular season, the Bears went 1-1 with a 1-0 win over Winona State and a 2-1 loss against Upper Iowa. Rowan-Stafford had a goal in each game, to increase her season point total to 14, which ranks 15^th best in the NSIC right now. In the Winona victory, Rowan-Stafford scored in the 12^th minute after taking a pass from senior Shannon Wynne and breaking free near midfield to beat the goalie to lift the Bears to a 1-0 lead. The defense took care of the rest, only allowing three shots on goal the entire game. Rowan-Stafford also had the lone goal in the loss to Upper Iowa. The Peacocks scored first in the 21^st minute as they headed in a goal off a set piece thirty yards out. The Bears answered quickly as Weller found Rowan-Stafford who dribbled around some defenders in the box and finished the play with a goal in the bottom left corner of the net. The game went back and forth until the Peacocks again scored in the 86^th minute when an Upper Iowa player got a deflection and found the back of the net. The Golden Bears outshot the Peacocks 17-7 in the game and held much of the possession but were unable to convert on some of their offensive chances.
 
CSP has had many offensive threats all season with ten different players scoring and thirteen total players being involved in scoring plays. Rowan-Stafford leads the team with 14 points, as she is now tied for 11^th in the Concordia record book for most career points, with a season left to play. Weller is close behind Rowan-Stafford in points, with ten, as she has recorded four goals and two assists so far this year. The Bears also have five other players who have two or more goals so far this season, providing them with many offensive weapons to utilize in their upcoming playoff game.
 
The Concordia defense has also had a year to remember as they have now tied the Concordia record for the highest amount of shutouts in a season, with seven. Three of their consistent defenders, Weller, Heytens, and Hannah Pavek have tallied the team's highest minute numbers this year being large contributors to the success of the back line so far this season.
 
Wednesday's game in Sioux Falls will be available to watch online at cspbears.com/watch.