Third-Period Equalizer Goes A-Beggin'

MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/4/16)—A trio of goalmouth scrambles in the third period proved to be a difference maker in Concordia's 5-2 conference-opening loss to St. John's.

The Cobbers had three golden opportunities to tie the game in the middle of the final frame but each time they were denied and then the Johnnies were able to score an insurance goal at 16:37 and an empty-net tally at 19:18 to seal the win.   

The Johnnies outshot the Cobbers 34-24 and had the better part of the offensive chances but Concordia had a chance to tie, or take a lead, with their push in the third period. 

The loss is the first of the season for Concordia who falls to 2-1-0 on the year. St. John's remains unbeaten as they climb to 3-0-0. 

St. John's opened the scoring at the 7:20 mark of the first period when Sean Lang took advantage of a defensive-zone breakdown and beat freshman netminder Sam Nelson from the high slot. Lang was the offensive leader for the Johnnies in the game with five shots and a plus-2 plus/minus tally. 

Concordia jumped right back into the game a few minutes later when senior forward Garrett Hendrickson dangled his way to the front of the net and snapped a wrister off the left post into the St. John's net.

Senior captain Jeremy Johnson was credited with the assist on the first home goal of the year. 

Concordia gave up a pair of Johnnie goals in the second period but it was able to get to within one goal with less than five minutes remaining in the middle period. Staked to a power play at 15:38 freshman Eddie Eades ripped a slapshot from the point past St. John's goaltender Tyler Nelson. The first career Cobber goal for the defenseman from East Grand Forks at 16:02 of the second period put the Cobbers in good position for a comeback going into the final frame.  Mario Bianchi and Jon Grebosky picked up the helpers for the final goal of the second period. 

The Cobber offense found its stride in the third, gaining extensive zone time and getting a few tremendous scoring chances that were denied by St. John's. With just under four minutes left in the game, Concordia's Zach Doerring nearly tied the game but Nelson came up with a huge glove save while sprawled out on his knees. 

After another flurry of chances failed to net the equalizer, St. John's immediately went down to the other end of the ice and scored on a passing play from behind the net that was finished off by Matt Colford. 

The Johnnies added goal with the empty net to push the final score to 5-2. 

DUELING FULL NELSONS: A pair of Nelsons squared off in goal in the MIAC opener. Sam Nelson of Concordia and Tyler Nelson of St. John's each played magnificently for their respective teams. Sam stopped 29 shots on the night and Tyler countered with 22 of his own. Sam is now 1-1-0 on the year and Tyler is 2-0-0 for the unbeaten Johnnies. 

DOERR COUNTY: Senior forward Zach Doerring led the Cobbers with four shots and was robbed of a potential game-tying goal by a fantastic save from the St. John's goaltender late in the third period. 

WHAT'S NEXT: The Cobbers will try to gain a series split in the only conference action before December when they play the Johnnies on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Moorhead Sports Center.

CONCORDIA vs. ST. JOHN'S HIGHLIGHTS