3-on-3 Extra Point Is Good

STORY LINE: Junior Aaron Herdt scored an unassisted goal in the second overtime period to give Concordia two points in the MIAC standings. The game goes down in the record books as a 1-1 overtime tie with St. Thomas but the new MIAC rule of using a second overtime - which is a 3-on-3 format - gives the Cobbers the extra point in the conference standings.

RECORDS: Concordia is now 11-6-3 in all games and 7-2-2 in the MIAC. The Cobbers now have 25 conference points which puts them in second place – only three points out of first place and six ahead of third place. St. Thomas is now 10-4-4 overall and 4-1-4 in the MIAC. They have 18 league points which is good for fourth place.

NEW RULE, NEW EXCITEMENT: The MIAC coaches voted for the extra overtime period before heading to shootout in their coaches' meeting this summer. They voted to add the extra 5-minute 3-on-3 period to help settle ties without having to result to a shootout. The winner of a 3-on-3 OT game gets two points – just like a win in the shootout. The loser in the 2nd OT gets one point in the standings.

JACOB'S LADDER: Junior goalie Jacob Stephan turned aside 40 of the 41 shots he faced in the game as Concordia was outshot 41-28 in the game. The 40 saves are the most in conference play this year for Stephan and second most overall this season.  He stopped 42 shots in the team's 3-0 win over Gustavus in the MIAC Showcase at the start of the year. Stephan is now third in the MIAC in GAA with a 2.12 mark. He is second in save percentage at 93.3%.

FINAL FOUR-MINUTE FLURRY: The teams skated through two periods and then 16 minutes of the third period without scoring a goal. They then traded goals in a four-minute span. Sophomore Beau Wilmer broke the 0-0 tie when he scored his third goal of the year at 16:01. St. Thomas then countered with the game-tying goal with only 43-seconds left in regulation.

THE GOAL THAT WASN'T A GOAL: Unfortunately for Aaron Herdt his unassisted goal in the second overtime won't count on his season record. Since the NCAA doesn't sanction the 3-on-3 overtime period – any stats accrued in that session are deleted from the record. The game goes in the books as a 1-1 OT tie and Herdt's goal is just a figment of everyone's imagination.  

STAT STUFF: Concordia had 28 shots on goal in the game with five players coming away with at least three shots on target. Defenseman Kyle Siemers led the way with four shots while Joe Burgmeier, Aaron Herdt, Beau Wilmer and Jake Ellingson all had three shots.
       
UP NEXT: Concordia and St. Thomas will complete their 2-game series when they square off on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 2:30 p.m. in Mendota Heights.