Double-Digit Divas Clinch MIAC Playoff Berth

MOORHEAD, Minn. (2/14/15)—Kelsey Vandegrift scored two goals and Andrea Klug stopped all 23 shots she faced in Concordia's 2-0 win over St. Mary's. The victory extends the Cobbers' unbeaten streak to 10 games and clinches their fifth straight MIAC playoff berth.

The 10-game unbeaten streak is the longest in program history and pushes the team's conference record to 9-4-3. Concordia is now 10-10-3 in all games and at the .500 level for the first time all season.

Vandegrift has been a driving force for the Cobber offense for the past three weeks .  Her two goals against the Cardinals on Saturday give her a team-leading 11 for the season. She has now scored at least one goal in six straight games and is now tied for the MIAC lead in goals scored in conference play.

While Vandegrift staked Concordia to a 2-0 lead at the start of the second period it was Klug who shut the door on the sweep for the final 35 minutes of play. The Cobbers went into "shell" mode midway through the middle frame and Klug stopped everything that St. Mary's could throw at the net. She stopped a pair of breakaways along the way and numerous chances from around the crease in picking up the first shutout of the season.

The game was the exact opposite of Concordia's Friday night 3-2 win over St. Mary's. In that game the Cobbers gave up a pair of first-period goals and had to rally for three straight. Less than 24 hours later Concordia jumped to a lead in the fourth minute of play when Vandegrift took a loose puck at the SMU blue line walked in all alone and then put a move on the goalie and slid the puck into the open net after getting past the Cardinal netminder.

The unassisted goal at 3:07 turned out to be the eventual game-winner. It was Vandegrift's fourth game-winning goal in the past six games.

Concordia vs. St. Mary's Highlights - Feb. 14, 2015

The Cobbers were unable to add to their lead for the rest of the period but then struck in the fourth minute of the second period. Concordia was given a five-minute power play after a major penalty for boarding was called at the 2:47 mark. Vandegrift tapped in her second goal if the game after Maddy Gendreau slid a perfect pass across the crease to Vandegrift who was all alone on the left side of the net. Bekah Wright was also credited with an assist as both her and Gendreau continued point streaks on the play. Gendreau has now recorded a point in eight straight games while Wright pushed her point streak to five consecutive games.

St. Mary's (10-10-3/8-6-2 MIAC) slowly started to take control of the game and pushed forward into attack for the final 30 minutes of play. The Cardinals had 17 shots on goal in the final 30 minutes of play and also had several chances fired wide of the target.

Concordia was able to keep SMU from getting a first goal and Klug stopped all 17 shots in the final two periods of play to preserve the victory.

St. Mary's outshot Concordia 23-18 in the game marking the first time in 10 games that the Cobbers have been outshot. Sophomore Amber Schaack had a team-high four shots on goal for CC.

There were only two penalties called in the game. The Cobbers were whistled for a tripping infraction in the first period and then SMU had the five-minute major in the second.

Concordia will finish off the regular season when they play a two-game series at St. Catherine on Friday and Saturday Feb. 20-21.