Three Straight Leads To First Season Loss

RIVER FALLS, Wis.  (11/08/13)—Concordia scored the first and last goals against UW-River Falls but gave up three straight scores in between and lost 3-2 to the Falcons. It is the first defeat of the season for the Cobbers.  

The game featured a pair of teams who received votes in the latest USCHO.com national rankings and was more of an offensive affair than Concordia would have wanted. The teams combined for 33 shots in the first period alone and went on to hammer 71 total shots on goal for the game.

 The Cobbers opened the scoring midway through the first period when All-Conference defenseman Caleb Suderman picked up his third goal of the season at 9:24. Derek Whitehill and Chris Beede each earned their first assist of the season.

Concordia's lead held up for almost six minutes before River Falls tied the game at 15:20. The Falcons took the lead for good only 32-seconds later when UWRF netted the second goal of the period at 15:32.

Neither team was able to capitalize in the second period. The Falcons scored the game-winning goal at 5:20 of the final period. Concordia then pushed to get within one and finally scored their second of the game at 12:17 of the third frame. Freshman Jordan Christianson tied Suderman for the team lead in goals at three when he netted the only power play of the game. Jordie Bancroft and Dan Hrabowych were credited with the assists on the goal.

The Cobbers had nine more shots in the final seven minutes of play. Concordia pulled goalie Chris Neamonitis in the final minute of play and Christianson had a shot in the final 30 seconds of play but River Falls goalie Scott Lewan made the save to seal the win.

Concordia was outshot 45-26 in the game. Both teams had five power play opportunities in the game. CC's penalty kill unit held River Falls scoreless in their five attempts while the Cobbers were 1-for-5 on the power play.

Neamonitis made 42 saves for the game and now has a 96.4% save percentage for the season. Lewan stopped 24 shots for the Falcons to earn the win.

Concordia will now head north to take on UW-Superior on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. Superior fell 3-1 to St. John's at home on Friday.