Flurry Of Firsts Leads To 3-0 Win

MOORHEAD, Minn. (1/17/14)—Outside the Moorhead Sports Center it was a flurry of snowflakes that was the breaking news. Inside the Sports Center it was a flurry of firsts that made the headlines and helped Concordia to beat St. Benedict 3-0.

The Cobbers got the first career shutout from freshman goalie Andrea Klug to snap a two-game losing streak. Concordia's first three-goal performance of the season gives CC a 3-8-3 overall record and a 2-4-1 mark in the MIAC. The Blazers lose for the third straight game and are now 4-10-0 in all games and 1-6-0 vs. league opponents.

In addition to Concordia scoring more than two goals for the first time in a single game this year, the Cobbers also scored for the first time all season in the second period. CC had gone 13 games without scoring in the middle period but that all came to an end when Kelsey Vandegrift scored an unassisted at the 7:21 mark. Vandegrift added to the flurry of firsts by recording her initial goal of the season.

While it took the Cobbers 13 games to score their first goal of the season in the second period, it took CC less than seven minutes to record their second goal of the middle frame. Abby Taffe broke out of her season-long scoring drought by tipping in a shot from the point on the power play at 13:50. Taffe's first goal of the season was her 40^th career goal. Cassey Petrich and Libby Fransdal were credited with the assists on the play.

Klug and the Cobber defense shut the door for the final 26 minutes of play. Concordia gave up only six shots in the final period of play to complete the team's third shutout of the season. The biggest threat came right at the beginning on the final frame when the Blazers tried to press to get back into the contest. CC weathered the four-minute storm and then skated out the final 16 minutes to gain the victory.

Concordia wound up holding a 36-13 edge in shots on goal for the game. CC had a 15-4 advantage in shots in the first period and a 13-6 margin in the third period.

Klug stopped all 13 shots she faced to lower her team-best 1.26 goals against average. She also upped her save percentage to 94.1% on the season. Dory Johnson made 33 saves in the losing effort.

The Cobbers were 2-for-4 on the power to post their first two power-play goal game of the season. The power play goals also broke a 1-for-20 streak for CC on man-advantage situations. Concordia held St. Ben's scoreless in their three power play attempts in the game.

The two teams will complete the two-game series on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m.