MOORHEAD, Minn. (8/30/09)-- For the first time in the past three seasons, Concordia enters a new year without the title of defending MIAC champions. The Cobbers finished tied for third in the regular season in 2008 and then lost to Carleton in the conference tournament title game. Their appearance in the MIAC championship game marked the fifth straight season that Concordia has played in the league championship game – a streak they hope will reach a half dozen come November.

Concordia head coach Dan Weiler enters the 2009 campaign with a load of optimism as the team returns eight starters from last year’s squad. He also brought in a bumper class of 13 freshmen to help the Cobbers get back to the NCAA Tournament. Concordia will also be trying to continue its recent tradition of being the premiere women’s program in the MIAC. Over the past five years, the Cobbers have won more league games (42) than any other team in the conference.

To continue with their wining ways, Concordia will rely on an extremely deep junior class. Returning from that class for the Cobbers are three All-Region players in 2008. Abby Habein (Billings, Mont./Billings Senior), Sam Johnson (Fargo, N.D./Fargo North HS) and Sue Obermiller (Fargo, N.D./Fargo North HS) all earned All-Region honors last year and all have been starters since they stepped on the field as a freshman. That trio will be the trigger for the Concordia offense that returns all six attacking players from last year’s squad.

The biggest holes to fill for the Cobbers will be in defense where the team lost starting goalkeeper Britt Reiersgord and starting central defender Chelsee McLaughlin to graduation. Reiersgord was a four-year starter for the Cobbers and McLaughlin was the anchor for a defensive crew that was consistently at the top of the league in goals allowed.

Concordia will be pumped up by the presence of the 13 newcomers on the squad. The biggest contributions will come from the starting goalie and from forward Sarah Rounds (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata HS). Rounds was an All-Conference and All-State Tournament Team performer for Wayzata last fall. She will give the Cobbers another scoring threat on the front line. The goalie competition will be between freshmen Haley Haddock (Greenwood Village, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) and Ali Nelson (Maple Grove, Minn.)

Concordia will be hoping that their mix of experienced returners and enthusiastic first-year players will continue their elite program status and get them back into the NCAA Tournament at the end of the year.

2009 MIAC Coach's Preseason Poll
1. Carleton (6)
2. St. Thomas (6)
3. Concordia
4. Macalester
5. St. Olaf
6. Augsburg
7. Saint Benedict
8. St. Catherine
9. Gustavus
10. Bethel
11. Hamline
12. Saint Mary's