Kaufer And Balanced Scoring Are Answers In First Win

BLAINE, Minn. (11/01/14)—The question marks for Concordia before the season centered around replacing the scoring from All-American Caleb Suderman and the lack of a starting goalie who had any college experience. The new-look Cobbers had all the answers in their 5-1 win over Augsburg in the 2014-15 season opener.

Concordia scored five straight goals and rode the hot hand of sophomore goalie Jordyn Kaufer to record their fourth opening-game win in the last five seasons. Kaufer made 35 saves to record his first collegiate win in his first collegiate start. He stonewalled the Auggies in the first period, making 17 saves and keeping CC close before the offense could take over.

Suderman, the four-time All-MIAC defenseman was the team's second leading scorer last season, had a team-high 16 goals including four game winners. Concordia's answer in the opener was scoring by committee. The Cobbers had five different players score on the night. CC also showed off a new-look power play. Concordia scored two power play goals and was 2-for-4 in man-advantage situations. Last year the Cobbers were ranked fourth in the MIAC on the power play – converting just 18.2-percent of their man-advantage attempts.

Freshman Jon Grebosky got Concordia on the scoreboard first when he scored at 8:17. Fellow freshman Zach Doerring and Jordan Christianson earned the assists on the play. Grebosky would also record an assist in the game – one of three CC players to have a goal and an assist in the game.

Christianson would become the second multi-point scorer on the night. He put the Cobbers up 2-0 just before the first intermission. Grebosky and Doerring were were credited with the assists to give that line the first two goals of the year.

Concordia was outshot 17-9 in the opening period but it was Kaufer's stability between the pipes which allowed CC to take a two-goal lead into the second period.

The second period was all about the power play. Concordia stuck two more goals on the board – and both were of the power play variety. Jordie Bancroft picked up his first goal of the season at 15:44 of the middle frame and then Cody Skilling added the team's fourth just over two minutes later at the 17:56 mark. Charlie Aus and Garrett Hendrickson set up Bancroft's gino.  It was Bancroft's first power play goal since his freshman season in 2012-13. He had nine goals last year but none came on the power play.

Hendrickson then became the third Cobber to score a goal and an assist in the opener when he score Concordia's final goal of the game at 3:25 of the third period. Hendrickson, the All-MIAC Rookie Team selection in 2013-14, had 10 goals last year. His first of 2014-15 was assisted by Aus and Andrew Deters.

The Cobbers will finish off the MIAC Showcase on Sunday, Nov. 2 when they play St. Mary's at 2:30 p.m.