GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Golden Eagles are set to begin playoff soccer as they will host the five seed Concordia Cardinals in a win or go home match on Wednesday evening. The match is tabbed to start at 7 p.m. on CU Soccer Field, with the winner getting the opportunity to advance to the conference semifinal against the winner of No. 1 Northwestern Ohio and No. 8 Lawrence Tech. Wednesday's match will have live video/audio/stats available at cugoldeneagles.com/watch.

Opponent: Concordia
Date: Wednesday, November 1
Time: 7 p.m. EST
Location: Grand Rapids, Mich. (CU Soccer Field)
Internet Coverage: Live Video/Stats/Audio
 
History vs. Concordia
Cornerstone has been nothing but dominant against the Cardinals all-time, going 29-3-3 in their 20 year history of playing one another. The concerning piece for the Golden Eagles is that CUAA has had their number each of the last two games, defeating them 2-0 in 2016 and 1-0 earlier this year. In the match earlier this year, it was a goal in the 10th minute that proved to be the difference, as CU was shutout by the visiting Cardinals.
 
Scouting CUAA
Concordia has posted an up and down season under second year head coach Kristin Abbott, going 9-8-0, 5-5-0 WHAC. CUAA was looking to record their best finish in the WHAC in program history, but losses in each of their last three games pushed them down to the five seed. Concordia continues to be led by junior Julia Palushaj, who is tied four fourth in the WHAC with 11 goals this season. Palushaj is also tied with teammate Janaya Lothian for a team best four assists on the season. In net, Maria Lulgjuraj has started all 17 games and recorded a .738 save percentage.
 
Marygrove Forfeit
Cornerstone was granted an additional win this past week in a forfeit by Marygrove. Former WHAC opponent Marygrove announced at the beginning of the fall that they would no longer be continuing undergraduate programs at the school, therefore ending their women's soccer program. Since Marygrove was a scheduled WHAC opponent, all 11 teams remaining in the conference were granted a 1-0 non-conference forfeit victory over the Mustangs.
 
Four Seed
Just last week the Golden Eagles playoff hopes were potentially on the line, but a pair of wins along with help from the conference moved CU all the way up to the four seed where they will now host Concordia. Coming into the final game of the season it looked as if CU was going to finish sixth, but a pair of upset victories by Lourdes and Rochester helped the Golden Eagles jump both Indiana Tech and Concordia, allowing them to host the quarterfinal round. If CU defeats Concordia, they will play the winner of the top seed Northwestern Ohio vs. eight seed Lawrence Tech.
 
Last Time in the WHAC Tourney
Cornerstone fell just short of qualifying in the WHAC Tournament in 2016, but did make it in each of the previous six seasons. In 2015 (the last time CU qualified), the Golden Eagles defeated Concordia in the quarterfinal round before falling to the top seeded Racers of Northwestern Ohio in the semifinals.