First-Minute Goals Push Unbeaten Streak To Seven

NORTHFIELD, Minn.  (2/06/15)—The first minute of play in all three periods was very kind to Concordia against St. Olaf. The Cobbers scored in the opening minute in all three frames and breezed to an 8-0 win over the Oles.

The eight-goal outburst extends Concordia's unbeaten streak to seven games, its winning streak to four games and moves them into a tie for third place in the MIAC standings. CC is now 7-4-2 in league play and hasn't lost since Jan. 10. The Cobbers have dropped a conference game since before the Christmas break.

A goal by Kelsey Vandegrift at the 28-second mark of the first period, a tally from Maddy Gendreau at the 59-second point of the second period and a nugget from Bekah Wright at the 27-second mark of the third period swung the momentum in Concordia's favor for the entire game.

The three-early period tallies plus a 54-shot offensive attack tied the Cobbers' largest margin of victory this season. The 54 shots on goal is a season high and the most since the 2010-111 season when Concordia put up 56 in a game against Marian. It is the most against an MIAC squad since Jan. 13, 2001 when they put up 60 against St. Olaf in Moorhead.

The Cobbers scored a pair of goals in the first period and then ripped off three in each of the second and third stanzas to earn the 8—0 victory. The offense increased their shot production in each period and finished with a 24-shot third period.       

In addition to the opening-minute strike goals in each period, Concordia received scores from Kristin Drechsel in the first period, Hannah Johnston and Erin McNeill in the second stanza and a pair from Ellen Rethwisch in the third period. For Johnston and McNeill it was their first-ever collegiate goal. Rethwisch earned her sixth and seventh goals of the year and is now tied for the team lead in goals scored. Rethwisch has now posted a point in three straight games.

Gendreau also had two assists in the game and continues to lead the team in scoring. She now has six goals and 10 assists for 16 points and has at least one point in five straight games.

Concordia had 16 different players record at least one shot in the game. Jessica Kongelf had a game-high eight shots for the Cobbers. Vandegrift contributed seven and Rethwisch added six.

Cobber junior goalie Madison Denny turned aside 29 shots in the game to record her first shutout of the season. She is now 4-4-1 for the season and lowered her team-leading goals against average to 2.02.

Concordia will put their seven-game unbeaten streak on the line when they finish off the series against the Oles on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 2 p.m. at the Northfield Ice Arena.