Cobbers Change Equation, Come Away With Win

MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/30/12)—Two weeks ago Concordia scored one goal in a conference series and came away with only one point. The Cobbers changed that equation on Friday as they scored one goal and came away with two conference points.

Freshman Jordan Phillippi scored her first collegiate goal at the 15:51 mark of the second period and Concordia went on to beat St. Thomas 1-0. The key in the game was the Cobber defense which limited the number of quality chances and kept the Tommies under 30 total shots for the game.

The victory continues the Cobbers' perfect season record on Friday night. CC has not lost on a Friday and is 3-0-2 in the first games of weekend action. Concordia is now 4-2-3 overall and 3-1-1 in MIAC play and remains in third place in the league standings. St. Thomas loses for the third straight game after starting the season 3-1 and falls to 3-4-0 in all games and 2-3-0 in conference competition.

The Concordia defense was bolstered by the return of 2012 MIAC All-Rookie Team honoree Libby Fransdal and three-year starter Ali Nelson who returned to the team after their stint with the MIAC champion Cobber women's soccer team. "It was fun to be back on the ice again," said Nelson. "It took awhile to get my game skating legs back but it's just like riding a bike and once the first period was over I felt comfortable."

The teams skated through a game that featured only two penalties and finished in under two hours. The  two penalties were whistled in the first period and neither team could capitalize on the ensuing power plays.

Concordia outshot St. Thomas in all three periods with the widest margin coming in the opening frame where CC held a 12-5 margin.

Phillippi's game-winning goal came after Concordia was able to hold the puck in the zone and Madison Gendreau and Hannah Johnston combined to push the puck towards the Tommie net. Phillipi was waiting on the left side of the net and sent a backhand shot into the top portion of the net.

The Cobbers controlled the rest of the second period before St. Thomas tried to equalize early in the third. UST put up nine shots on goal in the first 14 minutes of play in the final frame but Concordia freshman goalie Madison Denny was up to the task and made sure CC wouldn't give up the game-tying goal in the final minutes of play. The Cobbers were able to push the attack to St. Thomas towards the end of the game and wound up getting 10 of the final 12 shots on goal.

Concordia outshot St. Thomas 39-26 for the game with Denny stopping all 26 shots to pick up her first collegiate shutout. Denny is now 3-2-1 on the season and owns a team-best 1.39 goals against average. Tommie goalie Alise Riedel made 38 saves in the losing effort.

The two teams will finish off their two-game series on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. at the Moorhead Sports Center.