Setting Up A Dramatic Last Weekend

ST. PETER, Minn. (2/10/18)---Less than 24 hours after scoring three unanswered goals and beating Gustavus 4-2, Concordia gave up four straight and lost 5-1 to the Gusties in the series finale.

The Cobbers miss the chance to jump over Gustavus in the league standings and move into fourth place. Concordia is currently in the No.5 spot for the five-team race to make the playoffs. The Cobbers have 20 conference points with a 6-7-1 record. They are now 9-11-3 overall.

The Gusties stay ahead of Concordia and have 24 points. GAC is 8-6-0 in the MIAC and a similar 9-11-3 in all games.

The series finale turned in the final minute of the first period and then the first five minutes of the second period. The Cobbers evened the score at 1-1 in the final seconds of the opening frame. Tanner Okeson was able to get CC on the board with his fourth goal of the season with only 7-seconds left to play in the period. Concordia leading scorers Jon Grebosky and Zach Doerring earned the assists on the goal.

Concordia had all the momentum entering the second period but the Gusties were able to hold CC off the board and settle into a scoreless second stanza. Both teams had chances to score in the second but both goalies were equal to the task and the game remained tied at 1-1 until the start of the final frame.

The game turned in the first five minutes of the third when Gustavus scored twice to take a 3-1 lead.  The Gusties got the game winner just 32-seconds into the period. They would double the lead at the 4:24 mark and CC would never be able to get within two goals for the final 15 minutes of play.

Gustavus held a 16-6 advantage in shots in the decisive period. The Gusties also outshot CC 40-21 for the game.

Grebosky had a team-high four shots on goal while Bryan Kronberger and Blake Berg had three shots each.

Jacob Stephan got the start in goal for the second time on the weekend and made 35 saves.

MAKING THEM COUNT: Concordia only gave up two power play chances on the weekend but unfortunately for CC they allowed goals on both chances. The Cobbers were 0-fo0r-3 on the power play on Saturday and 1-for-4 for the weekend.

STRIKE FORCE: The Cobber dynamic scoring duo of Zach Doerring and Jon Grebosky had two more points on Saturday. One or the other has now put up at least one point in eight straight games and 13 of the past 14. They have both recorded points in four straight games. Doerring now leads the team with 13 goals and 10 assists for 23 points while Grebosky has six goals and 16 assists for 22 points.

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will return home to try and secure a playoff berth. The Cobbers will host Augsburg on Feb. 16-17. The Auggies are in second place in the MIAC standings and have split their last three conference series.