A One-Point Blink Of An Eye

NORTHFIELD, Minn. (2/07/15)—The blink of an eye. That's the amount of time that separated Concordia from coming away with a series sweep at St. Olaf. The Cobbers conceded a goal with 0.1 seconds left in the third period and had to settle for a 2-2 tie with the Oles.  

The 2-2 gives the Cobbers three points on the weekend and extends their unbeaten streak to eight games. Concordia hasn't lost in almost a month and is now 8-10-3 overall and 7-4-3 in the MIAC. The Cobbers have 17 league points and are currently in fourth place in the conference standings.

For the second straight game Concordia completely dominated in shots on goal and "zone" time possession. Unfortunately, the Cobbers couldn't match Friday night's eight-goal output and kept St. Olaf within one goal for the entire game.

St. Olaf scored first in the fourth minute of the opening period. The Oles connected on their first power play attempt of the game to go ahead 1-0 at the 3:48 mark.

The Cobbers then responded with an even-strength score less than two minutes later. Kelsey Vandegrift scored at 5:17 to tie the game at 1-1. Vandegrift's goal was her second of the series and fourth in as many games. Maddy Gendreau earned the first of her two assists on the day on the game-tying play.

Bekah Wright gave Concordia a 2-1 lead in the final six minutes of the opening frame and it looked like the Cobbers were starting to get on another offensive roll. Wright's goal at 14:03 came on the power play. It was her seventh goal of the season which ties her with Vandegrift, Ellen Rethwisch and Amber Schaack for the team lead. Gendreau and senior defenseman Libby Fransdal were credited with the assists on the goal. For Gendreau it was her team-leading 18th point of the season.

Concordia took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission and tried in vain to grab a two-goal lead and put the game out of reach. CC pummeled the St. Olaf net for 21 shots in the second period and then 11 more in the third but couldn't earn the much-needed third goal of the game.

The lack of scoring came back to haunt the Cobbers as St. Olaf scored on the final tick of the clock after a goalmouth scramble. With bodies on the ice in front of the net and the puck lying outside the crease, an Ole player backhanded the puck under the pile as she was facing away from the goal. The puck then somehow slide between all the skates and legs and went into the goal just before the buzzer sounded.

Concordia was stunned and wasn't able to pick up a game winner in overtime.    

The Cobbers wound up with a 46-27 advantage in shots on goal for the game. Concordia put up 100 shots on goal in the two-game series with the Oles.

Vandegrift and Emily Goff had a game-high five shots each.

Concordia was 1-for-3 on the power play while St. Olaf scored on their first of five man-advantage situations.

Concordia goalie Andrea Klug made 25 saves in the game and is now 4-6-2 on the year. She inched her season goals against average down to 2.05.

The Cobbers will now return home to host St. Mary's in a pivotal conference two-game series. The Cardinals are in third place in the MIAC standings – just one point ahead of Concordia. The teams will play on Friday, Feb. 13 and Saturday, Feb. 14. Both games are scheduled to be played at the Moorhead Youth Rink.