Defense Puts The Clamps On The Pipers

MOORHEAD, Minn. (2/10/12)-- Breann Julius scored two goals and the Concordia defense limited Hamline to only nine shots in the Cobbers' 3-0 win in Moorhead on Friday. Julius notched a pair of goals in the first period to help CC win for the second straight game.

With the victory, Concordia stays deadlocked with St. Thomas in a tie for second place in the league standings. The Cobbers are now 11-4-3 overall and 6-3-3 in the conference while Hamline drops to 8-10-2 in all games and 4-8-1 in the MIAC.

Concordia wound up outshooting the Pipers 34-9 in the game. The nine shots allowed is the fewest since the 2000-01 season when they only allowed seven against St. Olaf.

After having to wait an hour to start the game, Concordia jumped on Hamline in the first minute of play in the opening period. The Cobbers rushed the Piper net and Julius was "Breann on the spot" as she tapped in a rebound in front of the HU goal at the 46-second mark. Madison Gendreau and Abby Taffe collected the assists on the play. The same trio would stake the Cobbers to a 2-0 lead in the 16^th minute of play in the first frame. Julius once again drove to the net to hammer in a loose puck in front of goal. Gendreau and Taffe set up the second goal of the game. It was Julius' team-leading 16^th goal of the season.

The Cobbers took a 2-0 lead into the second period and then outshot Hamline 17-0 in the middle frame. Unfortunately CC could not extend their lead as Hamline goalie Nicole Jones turned aside every shot she faced. Concordia then tacked on the extra "insurance" goal in the fourth minute of play in the final period. Senior Rachel Stevenson netted her second goal of the year to give the Cobbers a much-needed three-goal cushion. Jenna Westerham was credited with the helper on the play.

Concordia only allowed three shots in the third period and wound up outshooting the Pipers 26-3 in the final 40 minutes of play.

CC freshman netminder Becca Henrickson stopped all nine shots she faced to pick up her first collegiate shutout. Jones made 31 saves in the game and was saddled with her sixth loss of the season.

Concordia did not have a power play opportunity in the game while the Pipers were 0-for-3 in PP chances.

The two teams will complete the two-game series on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. at the Moorhead Youth Rink.