Capping Off A Record-Setting 2011

BUFFALO, Minn. (12/10/11)—No.9-ranked Concordia finished off the best pre-Christmas start in program history by beating St. Kate's 4-3 in a non-conference game in Buffalo. The win pushes the Cobbers record to 7-1-1 on the year as they head into the New Year.

The Cobbers also cap off the best calendar year in program history. Concordia posted an 18-3-4 mark in games played in 2011 which takes into account the last half of the 2010-11 season and the first part of the 2011-12 campaign.

Concordia roared out to a 3-0 lead in the first 13:26 of the opening period. CC got goals from Libby Fransdal, Jenna Westerham and Abby Taffe to seemingly set themselves up for a stroll through the park.  Unfortunately St. Kate's had other ideas, getting a pair of goals in a span of 3:23 at the back end of the period to send the teams into the first intermission at 3-2. Fransdal's goal was her first collegiate tally and Taffe scored her team-leading fourth power play goal of the year. Ali Nelson collected the first of her two assists on the day on Taffe's man-advantage goal.

The Cobbers would restore their-two-goal lead midway through the second period when Katelyn Dold scored her sixth goal of the year on the power play. Nelson and Julius were credited with the assists. The Wildcats got back to within one when they scored an even-strength goal at the 16:40 mark. That would be the final goal of the game as both defenses tightened and both offenses failed to find the mark in the third period.

Concordia doubled up St. Kate's in shots on goal. The Cobbers had 34 shots as compared to only 17 for the Wildcats. CC freshman Rebecca Hendrickson picked up the win in her first collegiate start. Hendrickson stopped 14 of the 17 shots she faced. Haley Morningstar made 30 saves in goal for CSU.

The game was won in special teams play. Concordia was 2-for-5 on the power play while the Wildcats scored only once in their four PP attempts.

The Cobbers will now have a four weeks before returning to play against NCAA Division I opponent Lindenwood (Mo.) on Friday, Jan. 6 at 5:30 p.m.