Three-Goal Deficit Too Much Too Overcome

MOORHEAD, Minn.  (12/07/13)—Concordia couldn't overcome a three-goal deficit and lost 4-2 to No.8-ranked St. Thomas in the series finale.

The Cobbers gave up a single goal in the first period and then a pair in the second before they started their comeback. Concordia scored a goal in the final five minutes of the second and third periods before surrendering an empty-net goal in the final 40 seconds to lose by a pair of goals.

The loss is the first in conference play for the Cobbers. It is also the first the past four games and only the second in the past seven games. CC is now 6-3-1 overall and 2-1-1 in league play. St. Thomas remains on top of the MIAC standings as they move to 7-1-2 in all games and 4-0-2 in the conference.

For the second day in a row, the game turned in the second period. The Cobbers outshot the Tommies 10-8 in the first period and had the better of the chances despite falling behind 1-0 heading into the first intermission. St. Thomas then stepped up their game around Concordia's blue line and outshot the Cobbers 22-6 in the middle period. That shot advantage led to a 3-0 lead midway through the second period.  

Concordia got one goal back at the 16:49 mark of the second period when Jordie Bancroft slammed home a rebound from the right side of the crease after Caleb Suderman's shot from the point was stopped and kicked towards Bancroft. For Bancroft it was his third goal of the season and Suderrman earned his third assist of the year.

The Cobbers tried to get one goal closer through the first 1 minutes of the final period but the Tommies were content to chase down loose pucks and force Concordia to try and gain the offensive zone by going through four backcheckers.

Concordia started to pinch their defense and not allow the Tommies to get the puck out of their own end midway through the final 20 minutes and the extra pressure set up the second CC goal. Concordia kept the puck in at the blue line and Charlie Aus took possession on the right side. He fire a wrist shot towards the UST goal and the puck bounced off a group of players in front of the Tommie net and caromed over the shoulder of the St. Thomas goalie.

Aus was credited with the goal as the puck hit one of the Tommie players in front of the net. Derek Whitehill was given the assist after keeping the puck in at the blueline.

Concordia tried to press for the equalizer in the final three minutes of play but were unable to get a clear chance on goal. UST finished off the scoring with an empty-net goal at 19:21 of the final stanza.

St. Thomas held a 36-29 edge in shots on goal. Neither team was able to score on the power play. CC went 0-for-4 while St. Thomas was 0-for-2.

Chris Neamonitis made 32 saves in the game while Tommie goalie Drew Fielding stopped 27 of the 29 shots he faced.

Concordia will finish off their pre-Christmas schedule when they play at Northland (Wis.) in a two-game series on Dec. 14-15.