The first-place College of Saint Benedict soccer team (14-3, 8-2 MIAC) play their season finale tomorrow against Concordia-Moorhead (12-3-2, 7-1-2 MIAC). A roller-coaster of a season will be decided by this game. Win tomorrow, and they win the conference. Lose, and the conference championship will fall to either Augsburg or Concordia.

The Schedule:

Concordia-Moorhead at Saint Benedict, 1:00 p.m., Oct. 31st, Saint John's Fields, Collegeville, Minn.
 

The Records:

CSB: 14-3 (8-2 MIAC) (7-0 Home)

CC: 12-3-2 (7-2-1 MIAC) (4-2-1 Away)

Who to Watch:

CSB:

Jr. F Aly Hoffman (Leads team with six goals and 18 points)

Jr. F Gracie Vaughan (Has scored or assisted deciding goal in past five Blazer victories)

Jr. D Ellie Mullen (Defensive leader will be the key to stopping the Cobber attack)

CC:

Sr. F Elizabeth Robinson (Leads team with six goals)

Sr. D Libby Fransdal (Two-time All-Region player champions MIAC's second-best defense)

Jr. K Elizabeth Bitzen (0.61 goals against average is second only to the Blazers' Heather Kaluzniak)

Storyline: Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, one point separates the top three teams in the MIAC. The Blazers are tied for first with Augsburg (24 points) while the Cobbers trail close behind (23 points). The game will pit the conference's two best defenses against each other. The Cobbers are giving up just 0.61 goals per game while the Blazers have allowed an average 0.41 goals per game.

About the Cobbers: The Cobbers returned eight starters from their postseason run a year ago and looked to make this year Head Coach Kevin Roos' first championship season. Their opponents have been dominated by their suffocating defense, which has notched nine shutouts. Only two teams have scored multiple goals on the Cobbers. On offense they are led by two All-Region forwards in Robinson and Laura Prosinksi.

Last Year: 2013 marked the second time in three years that the Blazers have played the Cobbers in the season finale and then gone on to face the Cobbers in the playoffs. In last year's regular season finale, they deftly sent down the Cobbers 2-0 to clinch the MIAC regular season Championship. Three days later they beat the Cobbers 2-1 to advance to the MIAC Championship game. Without a doubt that wound will be fresh on their minds as they travel to the site of 2013's season-ending loss with a conference championship at stake.
 

Last Time Out:

On Saturday, the Blazers battled through a physical game to emerge the 1-0 victors. After each side saw a shot bounce off the side post, Vaughan took a pass from Hoffman and gave the Blazers the only goal they would need. A controversial second yellow-card early in the second half meant the Blazers had to defend their lead down a player for nearly 30 minutes. Despite being down a player for most of the period, the Blazers outshot the Wildcats 10-3 in the second half.

Home Sweet Close-to-Home: With a 7-0 home record this season, the Blazers will also be playing for a perfect record at home this season. Well sort of at home that is. With Blazer Field undergoing reconstructive surgery, the Blazers have played all their games at nearby Saint John's Field in Collegeville. The Blazers have been less-than-friendly hosts, outscoring their opponents 13-1.