Up, Down, Up And Then Really Down

MOORHEAD, Minn. (12/16/12)—Concordia squandered a pair of two-goal leads, gave up the game-tying goal in the final minute of regulation and then lost 5-4 to Northland in Moorhead on Sunday.

The Cobbers had a chance to gain their first sweep of the season but a goal with just 50-seconds left in the third period and then another at the 2:55 mark in overtime left  the Cobbers with a sour feeling heading into the holiday break.

Concordia also had a chance to climb to the .500 mark on the season but had to settle for a 5-7-1 mark to start the 2013 calendar year. Northland is now 2-1-1 in their last four games and moves to 3-8-1 on the year.

The Cobbers bolted to a 2-0 lead less than eight minutes into the first period. Ben Payne scored an even strength goal at 3:55 and then Trent Johnson scored his first goal of the season when he netted a shorthanded goal at 7:44. Brian Kang and Dmitry Kalashnikov had the assists on Payne's game-opening tally and then Danil Kalashnikov recorded the helped on Johnson's goal.

Staked to a 2-0 lead heading into the second period, Concordia dominated the middle frame but watched the Lumberjacks tie the game before the eight-minute mark. CC wound up outshooting Northland 23-9 in the second 20 minutes of play but had to rely on a pair of late goals to take their second two-goal lead of the game.

Aaron Wheeler came away with both of the Cobbers' goals in the second period – and both came on the power play. His first goal came courtesy of Kang and Joe Becker and then he netted his second with just 2-seconds left in the period to give Concordia a commanding 4-2 lead. Becker came away with his second assist of the period and Rylan Henley was credited with the second assist on the play.

Concordia continued to take the play to the Lumberjacks in the third period but watched their lead dwindle to one goal when Northland scored on the power play at 2:51. The 4-3 lead would stand until the final minute of play. After pulling their goalie to gain the extra attacker, Northland won the draw on the right-side face-off circle in Concordia's zone. The puck found its way to a Lumberjack player stationed in the high slot and he whistled a wrist shot into the upper half of the net.

The Cobbers stared in disbelief as they were headed to overtime after doubling up Northland in shots on goal at 44-22. Concordia held the advantage in the extra period as well but were the victims of a turnover on their own end and allowed the game winner on a shot from between the face-off circles.

Both teams had success on the power play. Concordia scored twice on their six power play chances while the Lumberjacks were 1-for-4.

Cobber netminder Kelly Andrew made 18 saves for the game while Northland goalie Mason Riley turned aside 41 shots and kept the Lumberjacks in the contest throughout the first 40 minutes of play.

Concordia will now have a three-week break before returning to play on Friday, Jan. 4 when they play at UW-River Falls at 7:05 p.m.