Cobbers Outshoot Saints Again But Drop Series Finale

DULUTH, Minn. (1/07/23)—Concordia led 1-0 and 2-1 in their series finale at St. Scholastica, but allowed four unanswered goals in the final 27-minutes of play and lost 5-2.

The Cobbers outshot the Saints for the second straight game, but dropped both games in the series to fall to 5-7-1 in all games and 2-4-0 in the MIAC.

Concordia got on the board first when Braden Costello scored his second goal of the season just before the first intermission. Costello finished off a passing sequence from Hunter Bjorge and Mason Plante to give CC a 1-0 lead at the 19:09 mark of the first frame.

St. Scholastica (7-4-2, 5-0-1 MIAC) would tie the game in the second minute of the second period, before Jack Westlund gave Concordia its second 1-goal lead of the game.

Westlund scored his second goal of the season 2:09 after Scholastica tied the score. Cole O'Connell earned his eighth assist of the year on the play.

That would be the final goal of the game for CC. The Saints tied the game at the 16:11 mark of the second period, and then scored the game-winning goal just 63-seconds later. The second goal of that span turned the momentum in Scholastica's favor. Instead of heading into the second break with a 2-1 lead, the Cobbers entered the third period having to chase a 1-goal deficit.

The Saints would add a fourth goal at 2:07 of the third period, and then finished off the score line with a mere 1-second left to play in the final period.

Concordia held a 33-22 advantage in shots on goal for the game, and a 70-48 margin for the two games in the series.

Westlund had a game-high six shots on goal. He now has 39 shots on goal for the season which is second most on the team.

Jackson Nelson recorded his fifth start of the season and stopped 17 shots.

The Cobbers had their power-play goal streak come to an end. CC entered the game having scored at least two power-play goals in three straight games, but were held scoreless in their three opportunities on Saturday.

UP NEXT: Concordia will host the final two non-conference games of the season next weekend. CC will face Wis.-Stevens Point on Friday, Jan. 13 at 4 p.m., and then square off against Wis.-Stout on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 2 p.m.