A Very Merry Finish For 2014

MOORHEAD, Minn. (12/13/14)—Andrew Deters' top-shelf redirection in the final 7-seconds of the second period completely changed the Cobbers' game with Northland and helped Concordia finish off 2014 with a 4-2 victory.

Deters' second goal of the game tied the score at 2-2 and kick started Concordia's streak of three unanswered goals to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 win. The victory pushes the Cobbers' record to 6-4-3 as they head into the Christmas break. CC is 4-1-3 in its last eight games since the middle of November.

Deters' first goal gave Concordia a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute of the first period and it looked like Concordia would cruise to an easy win in their final game of the 2014 calendar year. Deters was able to tip in a shot from Jeremy Johnson at 4:22 after CC was awarded a pair of power play chances. Garrett Hendrickson also earned an assist on Deters' sixth goal of the year.

The game started to tilt in Northland's favor in the next two minutes. The Lumberjacks tied the game on their very first shot of the game at the 8:26 mark.

Concordia would hold a 13-5 edge in shots in the first period but the teams would head into the second period tied at 1-1.

Northland (1-11-1) continued to bottle up Concordia in the offensive end and then use a quick breakout to gain odd-man chances in the Cobber zone. They were rewarded for their energetic play midway through the second period when they scored the go-ahead goal on a power play score at the 11:08 mark.                   

The teams continued to go back-and-forth and it seemed the game would be decided in the third period but Deters had other ideas. Concordia was able to gain control of the puck in the Lumberjack end in the waning seconds of the middle frame.

Defenseman Charlie Aus fired the puck behind the Northland goal from the blue line. Jordie Bancroft was able to win the race to the loose puck as it caromed off the end boards. He spotted Deters who was on the right side of the net. Bancroft threw the puck out front and Deters tipped the puck up into the air while almost standing on the red line three feet out from goal. The puck then rolled over the top of the Lumberjacks goalie's left shoulder and down into the net.

Deters' second goal of the game at the 19:53 mark gave Concordia the momentum heading into the final period.

Concordia vs. Northland Highlights

The Cobbers capitalized on that energy by scoring just 47-seconds into the third stanza. Deters and Bancroft teamed up for CC's game-winning goal with Deters earning the assist and Bancroft snapping home his team-leading ninth goal of the year from on top of the right-hand face-off circle.

The third period would then belong to Concordia as they gave up only three shots for the entire 20 minutes of play.

Johnson would finish off the scoring, and complete the Cobbers' three unanswered goals when he netted his third goal of the year at the 11:46 mark. Freshman Jon Grebosky slid a perfect pass across the face of the goal and then Johnson cradled the puck before wristing home a laser into top right corner of the mesh.

Concordia wound up outshooting Northland 36-15 for the game. CC has now outshot its opponents in eight of its last 11 games. The 15 shots allowed by the Cobber defense tie for fewest of the season. Concordia also only allowed 15 shots against Gustavus on Nov. 14

Johnson, Aus and Jordan Krebsbach all tied for the team lead in shots with four each.

Sophomore goalie Jordyn Kaufer stopped 13 shots to earn his second win of the season.

Concordia will have a three-week break for the Christmas holiday before returning to action when they host No.1-ranked St. Norbert on Friday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m.  

Andrew Deters Postgame Interview