Cobbers Knock Off Nationally-Ranked Spartans In Opener

MOORHEAD, Minn. (10/28/23)---Concordia never trailed in its season opener against No.9-ranked Aurora as they scored at least one goal in all three periods and posted a 4-1 win over the Spartans.

The Cobbers used a more physical style of play to win the puck in the neutral zone and create chances in Aurora's end of the ice.

Congratulations to anyone who had Hunter Bjorge on their bingo card for the first goal of the season. Bjorge snapped home a shot from the center of the ice just inside the blue line that eluded a pile of players in front of the goal and beat the Aurora goalie, who never saw the puck coming at him.

The goal at 6:50 matched Bjorge's goal total from all of last season. Hanson O'Leary earned the first of his two points on the game.

The Spartans tied the game at 13:52, and then Concordia finished the game with three unanswered goals. The game-winning strike was the nicest of the four in the game. Ben Luedtke made a nifty play on a 2-on-1 and was able to feed Jack Westlund, who 1-time the pass into the back of the net.

Westlund's goal at 16:24 of the opening period was his first since the beginning of January last year. He suffered an injury midway through January and never returned to the lineup. Luedtke was credited with the assist, as was Isaac Henkemeyer-Howe.

The Cobbers would notch a single score in each of the second and third periods. O'Leary would add his second point of the game when he sniped home a loose puck from in between the circles at 10:00 of the second period. Mason Plante and Bauer Barry had the helpers on the play.

Caden Triggs finished the scoring in the sixth minute of the third period. Cole Lehmann set up the play with a pass from the right-wing boards. Triggs was skating down the slot and redirected the pass into the far corner of the net as he cut to the near post.

The goal at 5:12 finished off the scoring in the game.

Concordia held a 24-21 edge in shots on goal that saw plenty of action around the net but not a lot of pucks being thrown on goal.

Cobber senior goalie Matt Fitzgerald made 20 saves to record his 10th career victory.

Aurora's lone goal came on the power play, and they were 1-for-5 in the game. Concordia failed to score on their three power-play chances.

UP NEXT: The same two teams will finish their 2-game series on Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Moorhead Sports Center.