No Wins But Lots Of Success

STEVENS POINT, Minn. (11/07/15)—The score lines and story lines were eerily similar in Concordia's two 5-4 losses at No.11 Wis.-Stevens Point.

On Saturday the Cobbers scored the game-tying goal as time expired in the third period only to lose the game in the third minute of overtime.  

In both games Concordia had a 3-2 lead late in the second period and in both games the game-winning goal came on the power play. In both games the teams combined for over 15 penalties. Both games also saw the Pointers score three power play goals and score three straight goals to erase a deficit. Finally, in both games the Cobbers scored at least one goal in all three periods.

The two one-goal losses put the Cobbers at 0-2 for the year but both defeats can be classified as "moral" victories because the Pointers are currently nationally ranked in both the USCHO.com and D3hockey.com polls and last year Concordia limped out of Stevens Point after the opening weekend having been outscored by five goals and had only found the back of the net once.

Concordia has now scored eight goals on the year. It took the Cobbers seven games to score eight goals last season.  

Saturday's game had a lot more drama than the series opener on Friday. The Cobbers broke out to a 3-1 lead midway through the second period only to see Stevens Point take a 4-3 lead with a three-goal streak in the second and third periods.

The Pointers took a one-goal lead in the third minute of the final period and then the Cobbers started pounding away on the UWSP door step for the final 17 minutes of regulation. CC put up 10 shots in the third period before the 11th, and final, shot of the period finally slid into the net.

Anna Westmark tied the game at 4-4 as the clock ticked to 0:00 and the buzzer sounded. The goal was Westmark's second of the game and came after the Cobbers pulled goalie Brittany Boss with 58-seconds remaining in regulation.

Unfortunately Concordia was whistled for a roughing penalty at the 1:02 mark in overtime and Stevens Point capitalized 1:44 into the man advantage.

Ellen Rethwisch, Westmark and Jessica Kongelf gave Concordia a 3-1 lead at the 10:16 mark of the second period.

Rethwisch tied the game at 8:34 of the first period. It was her second goal in as many games. Abby Kratzke had the assist on the goal. Westmark then put CC in the lead at 7:20 with an assist from Kongelf.

Kongelf then pushed the lead to 3-1 midway through the second frame. Kristin Drechsel and Morgan Bruns on the power play goal.

Kongelf, Rethwisch and Westmark all had two goals and an assist in the series and lead the team in scoring with three points.

Concordia outshot Stevens Point 35-29 for the game. Kongelf, Westmark and Amber Schaack all had six shots to lead the Cobbers. Schaack now has recorded 13 shots in the first two games of the year.

Boss stopped 24 shots in her first collegiate start.

After being sent to the penalty box 17 times in the first game, the two teams took 16 penalties in the series finale.  Concordia was 1-for-7 on the power play and UWSP was 3-for-7.

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will have their home, and MIAC, opener next weekend. The Cobbers will host St. Benedict on Friday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. and then again on Saturday, Nov.14 at 2 p.m.