Saint John's plays host to Concordia-Moorhead for the regular-season finale this Saturday, Oct. 27. The match is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville. – Live Stats
Preview Video:
-Head coach John Haws (0:37)
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (8-5-4, 5-2-2 MIAC) played to a frustrating 0-0 tie with Hamline Oct. 23 in Collegeville. SJU dominated the game statistically, holding stark advantages in both shots (26-11), including a 17-6 edge after halftime, and corner kicks (12-2). The Johnnies were also whistled for offsides five times and by a 10-4 count in fouls. Junior Michael Coborn (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) led SJU with six shots, while sophomores Ian Scudder (Sherwood, Ore.) and Zane Heinselman (River Falls, Wis.) added five and four, respectively. Heinselman rattled a shot off the crossbar with 3:29 remaining in regulation. The Johnnies were without their third-leading scorer (18 points), sophomore David Wee (Savage, Minn./Prior Lake), who had to sit the game out due to receiving his fifth yellow card of the season Oct. 20.
MIAC PLAYOFFS: In order to earn a spot in next week's four-team MIAC Playoffs, SJU needs the following to occur:
-Either St. Olaf (at No. 13 Carleton) or St. Thomas (vs. Bethel) must lose or tie.
-SJU must defeat Concordia-Moorhead Saturday. A loss or tie would eliminate the Johnnies even if the first St. Olaf/St. Thomas loses or ties.
The Johnnies will know their fate by the time they take the field for Saturday night's match against the Cobbers as both the Oles and Tommies play their respective regular-season finales at 1 p.m.
FAMILIAR STRING OF SHUTOUTS: The Johnnies have shut out their opponent in each of the last three matches, their first such streak since 2006. SJU topped Hamline (1-0), Saint Mary's (1-0) and St. Thomas (2-0) before earning a 6-1 victory at Concordia in the regular-season finale to clinch a share of the MIAC regular-season title.
A LOOK AT THE COBBERS: The Cobbers (6-11-0, 3-6-0 MIAC) battled to a heartbreaking 3-2 loss against Augsburg Oct. 23 in Moorhead. The Auggies scored the game-winning goal from 50 yards out with 18 seconds remaining in regulation. Augsburg got on the board first, but the Cobbers were able to take the lead with a pair of goals from junior Michael Forston, three minutes apart. Senior Jared Rice leads the team with 16 points (6g/4a), followed by Forston (6g/2a) and junior Kristian Reiersgord (4g/5a). Junior Peter Runquist has played all but 45 minutes in net this fall. He is 6-11 with three shutouts, a .759 save percentage and a 1.68 GAA.
LAST YEAR: Saint John's broke a scoreless tie with a pair of goals in the second half to post a 2-0 shutout of Concordia on Oct. 29 in Moorhead. Junior Joe Balder (Stillwater, Minn.) tallied what proved to be the game-winner, his second goal of the season, at the 61:58 mark of the second half. Coborn padded the lead with his 10th goal of the season, and 30th point, with 4:18 remaining. Junior Elliott Olsen (East Bethel, Minn./St. Francis) and Wee collected the assists for SJU.
SERIES HISTORY: Saint John's leads the series with a 16-7-2 record since 1987, but just a 6-5-1 record in Collegeville. The Johnnies, however, are 9-1 (4-0 at home) in the last 10 meetings with Concordia, outscoring the Cobbers by a 26-10 margin.
