Heading into the 2015 season, Head Coach Chris Citowicki knew his St. Catherine University squad – with strong senior leaderhsip and experience – had the potential to clinch a program-first Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) postseason berth. Heading into the final game of the season, there definitely was a lot on the line for the Wildcats and the scenario was easy – a win or a tie and you're in.  

It wasn't easy for the Wildcats who needed a huge defensive performance, but the red-hot squad managed to defeat Concordia College for the first time since 2002 with a 1-0 shutout on a cold Halloween afternoon in front of a home crowd to lock up a MIAC playoff spot Saturday afternoon in St. Paul. 

"When I got the job at St. Kate's," said Citowicki, "the goal was to be in the playoffs by the time our 2012 first-years were seniors. We did that today, on their senior day. It makes for a heck of a story and one we are all very proud to be a part of. I can't wait to see what happens next in the playoffs."

Facing a Concordia squad that had already locked up its playoff spot, the Wildcats were forced to battle for every ball against the Cobbers. The Cobbers outshot the Wildcats 15-11, but Danielle Mendez (Bloomington, Minn./Academy of Holy Angels) stopped all nine of the Cobbers' shots on goal to keep the Wildcats in the game – it was also her seventh shutout of the season and 19th of her four-year career in goal. 

The game started out back-and-forth with the Cobbers putting two early shots on goal toward Mendez. After two wide shots early from the MIAC's top statistical player Hannah Okerstrom (Bayport, Minn./Stillwater), the Wildcats finally started to gain control of  play. 

Then, in the 17th minute, first-year Iryna Talkachova (Shoreview, Minn./Shattuck-St. Mary's) gave the Wildcats only lead they would need when she received a pass in the box from Ellen Kokes (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) for a shot that beat Cobber keeper Elizabeth Bitzan. 

Both teams continued to bring the pressure in the first half that ended in a 7-7 tie for shots taken. Early in the second half, the Cobbers poured on the pressure with many oportunities to even the score. Mendez, though, had other plans stopping all five shots on goal from the Cobbers. 

With the assist on the goal, Kokes moves to 10 points on the season – her highest total in her four years as a Wildcat – which is third-most on the team. Talkachova moves to sixth on the team in points with five. Leading the offensive attack for the Wildcats was first-year Kaitlin Machovec (Woodbury, Minn./North St. Paul) with three shots on goal, while Okerstrom and Anna Pedersen (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater) each had two shots. 

The Wildcats improved their program-best overall record to 12-5-1 on the season and 7-4 in the MIAC. With the win over the Cobbers, the Wildcats clinch the No. 5 seed in the postseason and will head to Minneapolis Tuesday to take on No. 4-seed Augsburg College at 2 p.m. All playoff information can be found on the MIAC Women's Soccer Playoff Page. 

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