Back-And-Forth Season Opener Ends In Overtime

FON DU LAC, Wis. (10/29/22)--- A back-and-forth season opener for Concordia unfortunately finished in the forth column. The Cobbers traded leads with Marian before the Sabres scored the game winner in the first minute of overtime.

Neither team could post more than a 1-goal lead in a game that featured a 5-4 score line and had five tie scores throughout the three periods.

Concordia never trailed in the game until the 15:46 mark of the third period and needed a goal by Hunter Bjorge with 83-seconds left in regulation to send the game into the extra period.

Bjorge was one of four different Cobbers to post a goal in the first game of the year.

Mason Plante started the scoring at the 10:25 mark of the first period then Marian tied the game for the first time with 5:44 left in the frame. Hanson O'Leary would stake CC to a 2-1 lead in the seventh minute of the second period before the Sabres tied the game midway through the middle stanza.

Freshman Joe Harguindeguy pushed Concordia in front for the third time when he scored his first collegiate goal at 12:43 of the third period. Marian then responded with two goals in a span of 2:46 starting at the 13-minute mark.

Bjorge would tie the game for the fourth time with his first collegiate goal at 18:37.

The Sabres netted the game winner in OT when they were able to break free on a 2-on-1 situation in the neutral zone, drive the puck to the net and make the pas to the open player on the left side of the goal.

The Cobbers were outshot 34-31 in the game. CC was 1-for-6 on the power play, while Marian converted on two of their five man-advantage situations.

Senior goalie Jackson Nelson stopped 29 shots in goal for Concordia.              

UP NEXT: The two teams will finish off the series on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. at the Blue Line Family Ice Center in Fon du Lac, Wis.