Cobbers Run Into Red-Hot Goalie In Series Opener

MOORHEAD, Minn. (2/02/24)---Concordia outshot Augsburg 40-29 in their series opener on Friday, but ran into a red-hot goalie and lost 4-0.

The Cobbers had at least 12 shots on goal in each of the three periods of play but it was the play of Auggie goalie Sammy Vyletelka that proved to be the difference.

The two other storylines in the game were the lack of success on the power play and the return to the Moorhead Sports Center of former Cobber player Garrett Hendrickson, who is now the head coach of Augsburg.

Neither team was able to find the net on their power play opportunities. The Cobbers, who entered the game with the top power play in the MIAC, went 0-for-4 on the power play and only had five shots on goal in those four opportunities. Concordia's penalty kill unit was equal to the task as they didn't allow a goal in the four Auggie extra-skater chances and limited Augsburg to only six shots on goal.

While the final score read 4-0, it was a game that could have gone either way. The game-winning goal came from a low-angle shot that bounced off a pile of players in front of the goal. It came at the 12:52 mark of the first period.

The second goal came directly after the Cobbers' had killed off a power play and also came from a deflection from a pile of players in front of the goal. The Auggies second strike came at the 12:30 mark of the second period.

The two Augsburg goals came when the play was down in both ends of the ice with neither team having any real opportunistic scoring chances.

The game stayed that way with neither team allowing any open chances until the Auggies netted an empty-net goal from 185 feet away from goal.

Augsburg added a fourth goal in the last minute of play and the final score was an improbable 4-0.

The Cobbers outshot the Auggies 40-29 in the game. It is the sixth time this season they have reached the 40-shot mark in a single game.

Concordia had seven players with at least three shots on goal in the game and was led by defenseman Bauer Barry, who came away with a career-high seven shots.

Cole O'Connell added five shots with Liam Haslam and Isaac Henkemeyer-Howe both having four shots a piece.      

Cobber goalie Matt Fitzgerald made 25 saves in the game.

UP NEXT: Concordia will look to gain a split in the series when they host Augsburg on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 2 p.m.