Cobber Comeback Comes Up Short in Series Finale

FON DU LAC, Wis. (12/9/23)---Don't expect the Cobbers to book vacation stays in Fon du Lac any time soon.

Concordia fell behind Marian 4-1 for the second consecutive game but scored two straight to get within one before the Sabres closed out the 5-3 win with a goal in the final 3 minutes of play.

The loss is the third in December after the Cobbers went 4-1 in November. CC finished the 2023 calendar year with a 6-4-1 record.     

The second game of the series started on a different path than the first, with Concordia taking a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute of play. Senior Ryan Pogue got CC on the board with his first college goal at 4:21. Zach Stoner and Boe Bjorge picked up the assists on Pogue's rebound put back.

The 1-0 lead would last less than three minutes. Marian tied the game on the power play at 7:09. That would be the first of four straight for the Sabres. They took the lead at 10:04 and added two more in the final 6 minutes of the second period.

Cole O'Connell would bring the Cobbers within striking distance at the start of the third period. Concordia had a brief 5-on-3 power play and couldn't convert, but they took advantage of the 5-on-4 advantage immediately following the 2-man advantage.

O'Connell was able to skate down from the point and get control of a rebound between the faceoff circles. His uncontested shot found the top corner of the net, and CC trailed 4-2 with 14:49 left in regulation.

Mason Plante and Isaac Henkemeyer-Howe were credited with the helpers. For both players, it was their team-leading 12th point of the year.

Senior Liam Haslam would get the Cobbers within one goal midway through the period. Concordia's third goal of the game would also come on the power play with 8:19 remaining.

CC was staked to a 2-man advantage once again, and this time they cashed in. Haslam pounced on a rebound between the circles and buried his second goal of the series and third of the season.

O'Connell and Joe Harguindeguy had the assists. For Harguindeguy, it was his team-leading 10th helper of the year, and he joined Plante and Henkemeyer-Howe with 12 total points.           

The Cobbers weren't able to score on the ensuing 5-on-4 situation and didn't have another shot on goal before Marian restored their 2-goal lead at the 17:39 mark.

Both teams had 38 shots in the game, with CC holding a 17-10 edge in the third period.

Matt Fitzgerald made 33 saves in the game.

UP NEXT: Concordia will return to action in 2024 when they host No.5-ranked St. Scholastica on Jan. 5-6.