Late Second-Period Stretch Sours Playoffs

MOORHEAD, Minn. (2/25/16)—Concordia's first home playoff game since 2001 turned around a two-minute span at the end of the second period. Trailing 1-0, the Cobbers had a breakaway attempt stopped and then conceded a back-breaking goal moments later and went on to fall 3-0 to Hamline in the MIAC quarterfinals.

Concordia outshot the Pipers 30-27 for the game but couldn't get a puck past freshman netminder Justin Quale and went 0-for-4 on the power play as they finished the season with a 10-14-2 overall record.

Hamline moves to 10-11-5 and advances to play at Augsburg in the MIAC semifinals.

The opening 20 minutes was a typical playoff game with the team's playing tight and not wanting to give up any quality chances. The teams had limited chances on goal and the only goal in the frame came on a broken play.     

Hamline got on the board at the 12:50 mark when Mitch McPherson batted the puck out of midair from just outside the crease to get the first of his two goals in the game.

Concordia pressed the offense in the second period and held the majority of the zone. The Cobbers continued to buzz around the Piper goal but couldn't find a way past Quale. CC outshot the Pipers 11-7 n the middle period but it was the final shot on goal that started the game-changing stretch.

Concordia leading scorer Jon Grebosky broke free from the Hamline blue line and raced towards goal on a breakaway. He made a great move and slid the puck toward the left side of the net. He then tried to lift the puck past the outstretch pad of Quale. Unfortunately Quale made a great save moving back to the past.

Moments later the Pipers kept the puck in the CC zone and McPherson netted his 12^th goal of the year at the 17:07 mark.

Concordia would have three power plays in the third period to try and get within a goal but Quale was equal to the task and turned aside all 30 shots he faced.

The Pipers' final goal came at 18:36 of the third period after the Cobbers had pulled goalie Alex Reichle. An HU player was deemed to have been taken down from behind on a breakaway and the Pipers were awarded a goal rather than a penalty shot.

Concordia had three players with a team-high four shots. Adam Wiertzema, Mario Bianchi and Jeremy Johnson all fired four shots on target during the game.

Reichle was solid in net in his first MIAC playoff appearance. He stopped 25 of the 27 shots he faced and was on the puck the entire game.