Defensive Zone Struggles Lead To Overtime Loss

MOORHEAD, Minn. (1/11/14)—Concordia struggled in its own defensive end all game long, squandered a 3-1 lead and lost 5-4 in overtime to UW-Stout.

The Cobbers gave up three consecutive goals to the Blue Devils after taking a 3-1 lead at the end of the second period and lost for the first time in the past five games. Concordia finishes off the non-conference portion of its schedule and is now 9-4-2 on the year. CC ends the year with a 6-2-1 mark in games outside the conference campaign. Stout wins for the second time in the past three games and is now 5-9-0.

It was the third straight overtime game for the Cobbers and fourth overall this season. CC is 1-1-2 in OT contests this year.

Concordia's special teams once again were "spot on" during the game. The Cobbers scored two more power play goals and a shorthanded tally to open the scoring in the first period. CC has now scored nine power play goals in the past five games. Concordia is 9-for-18 (50.0%) in that stretch. The Cobbers scored five power play goals in the two games over the weekend.

In an ironic twist of fate it was the Cobber special teams that wound up giving up the game-winning goal in overtime. Concordia was called for an elbowing penalty in the final two minutes of the extra period and was in the middle of killing off the power play when a line change resulted in a "too many men on the ice" penalty. The subsequent 5-on-3 situation yielded the game-winning goal with just 56-seconds left on the clock.

The Cobbers got goals from four different players in the game. Jordie Bancroft started the scoring when he netted the empty-net tally on a breakaway at the 13:56 mark of the first period. Dan Hrabowych staked CC to a 2-1 lead at 5:57 of the second period when he scored his third goal of the season on the power play.

Freshman Jeremy Johnson would push Concordia's lead to 3-1 at 15:38 of the second period. His fifth goal of the campaign was assisted by Hrabowych and Joe Becker.

After Stout took a 4-3 lead midway through the third period, Concordia needed a goal in the final three minutes of play to tie the game and send it into overtime. Garrett Hendrickson continued his red-hot scoring streak by finishing off a goalmouth scramble on the power play. He has now scored four goals in the last two games. Johnson and Andrew Deters were awarded the assists. It was Deters' second assist of the game and team-leading 13^th of the season. He currently leads the MIAC in assists.

Concordia outshot the Blue Devils 44-39 in the game. CC goalie Chris Neamonits made 34 saves in the contest. Stout netminder Corey Koop turned aside 40 shots to earn his fifth win of the year.           

The Cobbers return to MIAC action next weekend when they play St. John's at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud on Jan. 18-19.