Second-Period Success Leads To Split

MOORHEAD, Minn. (1/30/16)--- Goals from three different players and stellar goaltending from sophomore goalie Alex Reichle helped the Cobbers blank Gustavus 3-0 and earn a split in the two-game series in St. Peter.

Reichle made sure Concordia wouldn't duplicate the Cobbers' slow start as he stopped 12 shots in the first period and kept CC in the game until the offense could get on track in the second period.

The win keeps Concordia in the top 5 of the MIAC standings. The Cobbers are now 6-3-1 in league play with 20 points. That total is fourth in the conference standings, just two points out of a two-way tie for second place between St. John's and St. Thomas. CC has two games in hand on both the Johnnies and Tommies.

Concordia has turned the second period into their offensive showcase. The Cobbers scored two of the three goals on Saturday, and five of their six total goals on the weekend, in the second period. CC has now scored 27 goals in the middle frame which is the most of any period by a full 11 goals.

Reichle turned aside all the shots he faced in the first period and then Jon Grebosky and Garrett Hendrickson staked the Cobbers to a two-goal lead with even strength and power play tallied just 2:10 apart.

Grebosky got Concordia on the board in sixth minute of the period when he scored his team-leading 10th goal of the year. Linemates Mario Bianchi and Zach Doerring picked up the assists on the goal at 5:25.

Concordia was then sent on the power play at the 6:02 mark when a Gustavus player was called for hooking. The Cobbers would take advantage of the 5-on-4 situation when Hendrickson slammed home his fourth goal of the year at 7:35. Jordie Bancroft and Jake Zeleznikar were credited with the assists on the play.

The Cobbers would take a two-goal lead into the final period and then senior Adam Wiertzema pushed the margin to three with an even-strength goal just 1:55 into the final frame. The goal took the wind out of the Gusties' comeback sails and Reichle would make the three-goal hold up by stopping nine shots in the third period.

Gustavus outshot the Cobbers 27-23 for the game. Bianchi had a game-high four shots on goal and now leads the team in shots with 64. He is currently tied for tied for eighth in the MIAC in that statistical category.

Reichle earned his second shutout of the season. He also lowered his goals against average to 2.99. He is now 8-9-1 on the year.

POWER UP
Concordia went 1-for-4 on the power play in the 3-0 win. It is only the team's second power play goal in the past 16 games. The Cobbers have four power play goals on the year and all four have been scored by different players.

GREBOSKY THE BAKER
Sophomore Jon Grebosky is on a serious scoring roll. He had the team's first goal on Saturday and now has 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points this season. Grebosky's point total is one more than he had in all of last season. He has also tallied at least one point in nine of the last 11 games.      
         
DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME
Cobber freshmen Jake Zeleznikar and Mario Bianchi are locked in a scoring race for top rookie point getter. Zeleznikar has six goals and seven assists for 13 points while Bianchi has eight goals and four assists for 12 points. Both players are in the top 4 in the MIAC in scoring by a freshman.

WHAT'S NEXT
Concordia will have the chance to make up ground on one of the second-place teams in the MIAC next weekend when they host St. Thomas. The Cobbers and Tommies will play a two-game series on Friday, Feb. 5 and Saturday, Feb. 6. Both games will be played at the Moorhead Sports Center. UST skated to a pair of ties this weekend with St. John's.