ST. PAUL, Minn. - Concordia-St. Paul soccer (9-6-4, 6-4-4 NSIC) is set to clash with the University of Mary Marauders (9-7-3, 7-5-2) in the NSIC Tournament quarterfinals on Friday at 11 a.m. at Husky Stadium in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
 
BUY TICKETS TO HOME GAMES ONLINE
Fans are encouraged to buy tickets in advance and bring your QR code to the gates to skip the line! Friends and families who utilize the pass list will also be utilizing the online ticketing service while all students, faculty & staff will access their free CSP tickets through the service. Fans do not need to create a login, remember a username or password or download an app to purchase tickets, and tickets can still be purchased with cash at the gates. Find out more in the partnership announcement between CSP Athletics and HomeTown Ticketing.
 
WATCH ONLINE – NSIC NETWORK
All Golden Bear NSIC soccer will be available to watch online, free of charge, powered by the NSIC Network, supported by BlueFrame Technology. Visit nsicnetwork.com/cspbears on a laptop or desktop computer, download the NSIC Network app on your mobile device or watch on your supported OTT provider such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV. Search "NSIC Network" and download the app for the league's full sport and team lineups. NSIC NETWORK FAQ
 
DOWNLOAD THE APP
Fans can download the CSP Bears fan app, free of charge and available in the App Store or on Google Play. The app contains rosters, schedules, scores, stats, news, social media and more! Customize your options to get notifications to your favorite teams, as well. Search "CSP Bears" in the app store to stay up-to-date on Golden Bear athletics.
 
NSIC CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
The Golden Bears advanced to the NSIC Tournament quarterfinals after stunning No. 19 Minnesota State last Monday with a 2-1 win at the Maverick All-Sport Dome in Mankato.
 
Their opponents tomorrow, UMary, punched their ticked into the semifinal round of the tournament after defeating Northern State 2-0, avenging their regular season finale loss to the Wolves on their home pitch.
 
On the opposing side of the bracket, Bemidji State advanced with a 2-1 double overtime win over Augustana, while the 2023 NSIC Regular Season Champions St. Cloud State bested Minnesota Duluth, 1-0, and earned the right to host the final two rounds of the tournament. The Huskies and Beavers will battle at 2:00 p.m. following CSP vs. UMary.
 
HISTORY AT THE NSIC TOURNAMENT
CSP holds a 6-13 record in the NSIC Conference Tournament since becoming an NCAA Division II program in 1999.
 
The Golden Bears have appeared in the NSIC Tournament semifinal match three times (2021, 2019, 2006). In their first appearance in 2006, the Golden Bears dropped a 0-1 match to the Marauders after they netted the game-winner in the 50th minute. They added a semifinal win in 2019 after Nikki Anderson (2019-22) netted a pair of goals against St. Cloud State. Their latest semifinal finish was a heart-breaking 0-1 loss to Bemidji State, as the Beavers scored the game-winning goal in the 54th minute.
 
They claimed their first tournament victory against the MSU Moorhead Dragons 3-1 at Concordia Field on October 24, 2006. They added their second win in the consolation finals later that week with a 1-0 double overtime win over Wayne State.
 
In 2019, the No. 20 Golden Bears were the NSIC Regular Season Champions and added their best finish in the tournament. CSP notched a 2-0 win over Wayne State in the quarterfinals before adding a 2-1 win over St. Cloud State in the semifinal match. However, they would drop the championship game 3-0 to Minnesota State at Sea Foam Stadium.
 
All-NSIC SELECTIONS
Earlier this morning, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) announced the 2023 Women's Soccer All-Conference Teams, which is highlighted by senior forward Katie Anderson, who received NSIC Offensive Player of the Year and All-NSIC First Team honors. Joining Anderson on the All-NSIC First Team was senior defender Tori Miller and rounding out the All-NSIC honors was junior (graduating) forward Corynn Grabau, who tabbed All-NSIC Second Team recognition.
 
Anderson made history by becoming the first-ever CSP soccer player to receive the NSIC Offensive Player of the Year award. The San Diego, California native is now a three-time All-NSIC recipient and a back-to-back All-NSIC First Team selection.
 
Tori Miller became a two-time All-NSIC recipient after collecting All-NSIC First Team honors this year and All-NSIC Second Team honors last season. Corynn Grabau rounded out the All-NSIC honors as she tabbed All-NSIC Second Team recognition.
 
RECAP OF THE WEEK
The Golden Bears kept their season alive and advanced with a 2-1 victory over No. 19 Minnesota State at the Maverick All-Sport Dome on Monday.
 
Concordia claimed the second win in program history and avenged a heart-breaking 1-0 loss that they suffered to the Mavericks early this season at Sea Foam Stadium. In addition, with the win, CSP snapped a three-game losing skid to MSU and claimed their first win in the series since the 2019 campaign.
 
Jessi Jordan (6-6-3) had a stellar 90-minute performance in her 16th start in goal this season. The junior (graduating) goalkeeper collected seven saves in the match, the second most that she has had this season for the Golden Bears.
 
Anderson added her 34th career and conference-leading 12th goal of the season this afternoon. The San Diego native finished with match-leading six shots (two on goal) during her 81-minute stint on the pitch.
 
Grabau added her sixth goal of the season and third game-winner of the season. The junior (graduating) finished with three shots and also tallied 81 minutes on the pitch for Concordia.
 
In the first half, the two clubs traded possession back-and-forth in the early going. However, in the 30th minute, Sammy Ponsonby was able to notch her first assist of the season after Anderson netted the first goal of the match that sailed over MSU goalie Mackenzie Rath before finding the upper left part of the goal to put the Golden Bears ahead, 1-0.
 
CSP kept the momentum rolling into the latter part of the half with four shots that included a pair of on-goal shots by Ponsonby and Anderson. Minnesota State attempted to even the match with shots by Addison Clarley and Maddix Archer, but Jordan denied their attempts with a pair of saves to hold the lead heading into the halftime break.
 
In the second half, both teams again traded possessions and shots in the opening minutes. Jordan made a miraculous save in the 52nd minute that helped swing the momentum back in favor of the Golden Bears.
 
Minnesota State found a way to even the game at one goal apiece with a penalty kick goal from Allie Williams in the 75th minute following a CSP foul inside of the box. However, Grabau answered with the game-winning goal in the 81st minute, and the Golden Bears' defense held strong for the remainder of the match as they secured their spot in the NSIC Tournament semifinal with a 2-1 victory over the Mavericks in Mankato.
 
SEASON-LEADERS
Anderson added a goal in the NSIC Tournament quarterfinal match to extend the conference-leading goal total to 12, which also ranks tied for 19th nationally. In addition, the San Diego native leads the NSIC in total points with 28, as she has also contributed to the Golden Bears scoring with four assists this season. She continues to add to her conference-best shots with 92 and shots on goal with 43. The senior captain has had a historic career for the CSP soccer program, as she is the all-time leader in goals scored with 34 and tied for second career points with 83 (34g, 9a).
 
Miller has had a stellar season on the defensive side of the pitch with 1681 minutes. The Bloomington native exited the pitch only once this season against Minnesota Crookston in her final game at Sea Foam Stadium on Senior Day. She has also contributed to the scoring with six points after scoring two goals and adding a pair of assists. Miller was named the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week (9/25) following an impressive showing against MSU Moorhead and Northern State.
 
Grabau is currently second on the team and tied for 10th in the NSIC with 14 points. The junior (graduating) forward has netted six goals after connecting with the game-winner against Minnesota State, which ranks tied for ninth in the entire NSIC. She has collected 32 points (13g, 6a) and five game-winning goals in her three years in the Navy and Gold.
 
Jordan (6-6-3) has started 16 games in goal for the Golden Bears and has a 0.92 goals-against average. The junior (graduating) has collected 49 saves (.812 SV%) and has faced 131 shots. She has gathered five shutouts and was credited with a combined shutout against Minot State and Minnesota Crookston last time out.
 
HISTORY BETWEEN CSP AND UMARY
The two programs have met a total of 21 times, dating back to September 21, 2002, and the Golden Bears hold a 3-16-2 all-time record against the Marauders. UMary was victorious in 13 of the first 14 matches between the two schools, claiming the inaugural match in Bismarck, 2-0. Concordia notched their first win in the series with a 3-1 decision in St. Paul. In the regular season, after Anderson broke the CSP All-Time goal record in the 62nd minute, Mary found a way to steal the match, 2-1, with a goal in the 88th and 89th minutes.
 
ABOUT THE MARAUDERS 
The University of Mary posted a 10-5-4 (7-4-4 NSIC) record in the 2022 campaign and was picked to finish fifth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll with 134 points.
 
The Marauders are currently 9-7-3 (7-5-2 NSIC) after upsetting the Northern State Wolves 2-0 in the NSIC Tournament quarterfinals on Monday in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
 
In non-conference play, UMary went 1-2-1 to open the 2023 campaign. The Marauders got off to a fast start after tying with Western Colorado before defeating Minnesota State Moorhead 1-0 at home. Their two blemishes came against Grand Valley State and Central Missouri in neutral site play,
 
In NSIC regular season play, the Marauders collected their first win in conference play over Southwest Minnesota State (2-1) before going on an impressive six-game winning streak with wins over Bemidji State (2-1), Minnesota Crookston (2-0), Concordia-St. Paul (2-1), Winona State (2-0), Sioux Falls (4-0) and Wayne State (1-0). In addition, they played to a pair of ties against MSU Moorhead and Minnesota Duluth.
 
The player to watch for the Marauders is #24 Olivia Gardner. The sophomore forward was named to the All-NSIC Second Team after finishing tied for third in the conference with six goals this season in NSIC play. She has tallied 15 total points this season with seven goals, three of them being game-winning goals.