Overtime Is Unkind In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, Minn. (12/13/14)—Concordia never trailed Bethel for three periods in their non-conference game played in Alexandria but gave up a goal in the first minute of overtime and lost 4-3.

The Cobbers led 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 but were never able to pull away from the Royals and would up losing for the second time in three games in December. Concordia is now 2-7-0 on the season as it heads into the Christmas break. Bethel wins for the fourth straight game and is now 7-3-0 on the year.

The game was played in Alexandria to showcase college women's hockey to the local youth teams. The game was part of a "girls in hockey" celebration day. Both teams talked to the youth players after the game.  

Senior Kelsey Vandegrift started the scoring trend for the Cobbers as she staked Concordia to a 1-0 lead in the second minute of the first period. Vandegrift got control of the puck and beat the Bethel goalie to the post for the wraparound goal at the 1:36 mark. It was her first tally of the season.

Concordia would hold their first lead of the game for a full 24:14 before the Royals tied the game in the sixth minute of the second period.

Jess Nelson would then give the Cobbers their second one-goal lead of the contest at 8:39 of the middle frame. She took possession of the puck on the Bethel blue line, beat the defense around the right wing and then fired a shot that beat the Royal goalie through the pads. Like Vandegrift, it was Nelson's first goal of the season.

Unlike the 1-0 lead, the one-goal margin at 2-1 wouldn't last through the period. Bethel knotted the game with 3:20 to play in the second period on the only power play goal of the game.

The teams went into the second intermission deadlocked at 2-2 and it looked like that score line might hold up throughout the third as both teams were unable to get behind the defense to create quality chances.

The Cobbers took their third one-goal lead midway through the final period. Sophomore Amber Schaack circled out front from the right side boards and fired a shot from in between the face-off circles that hit a group of players standing in front of the BU goal. Schaack's momentum carried her toward the left side of the net. Line mate Ellen Rethwisch was able to get her stick on the puck and knock it free towards the advancing Schaack who calmly collected the puck and fired it into the net before the Royal goalie could slide over and make the save.   

Concordia vs. Bethel Highlights

Schaack's tally at 9:32 was her third of the season which ties her for the team lead in goals. Rethwisch earned her team-leading third assist on the play.   

Just like the 2-1 lead, the 3-2 wouldn't last until the end of the period. Bethel tied the game at 3-3 at the 14:36 mark and the teams would head overtime.

Concordia started the overtime session down a player as the Cobbers were whistled for an interference penalty with 1:30 left in regulation. CC was able to kill off the 30-seconds of penalty time to start overtime but Bethel kept the puck in the Concordia zone and was able to get the game winner at the 45-second mark of overtime.

The Cobbers were 0-for-3 on the power play in the game while the Royals went 1-for-5.

Bethel held a slim 22-18 edge in shots on goal for the game. The Royals had the only shot of the overtime period. Schaack and senior Maddy Gendreau had four shots each to lead CC.

Andrea Klug made 18 saves in goal for the Cobbers.

Concordia will return to action after the Christmas break when they face Concordia (Wis.) in a two-game series on Friday, Jan. 2 and Saturday, Jan. 3 in Mequon, Wis.