3-3 Tie Keeps Cobbers Unbeaten

MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/05/16)— Concordia wasn't able to make a three-goal second period hold up and came away with a 3-3 overtime tie against Wis.-Stevens Point on Saturday.

The Cobbers scored three goals in a span of 7:26, including two in 54-seconds, at the end of the second period to remain unbeaten on the season.

Concordia starts the 2016-17 season by going 1-0-1 against the Pointers. Stevens Point is now 1-2-1 on the year after splitting with St. Olaf last weekend.

While the three goals at the end of the middle frame was a deciding factor in the game perhaps the biggest key on Saturday came from special teams play.  The Cobbers could only come up with a single goal in eight power play attempts and also allowed a shorthanded goal in the first man-advantage of the game. On the other side, Stevens Point went 2-for-5 on their power play chances and was able to get the game-tying goal while Concordia was serving a checking penalty.

All told in the game the teams combined for 14 penalties and 28 penalty minutes.

Stevens Point scored shorthanded midway through the first period and then doubled the lead midway through the second period. At that point it looked like Concordia would have to settle for the series split with UWSP.

The Cobber offense came alive less than two minutes after the Pointers took a 2-0 lead. Senior Jess Nelson scored her second goal in as many games when she fired in a shot from the high slot at the 12:33 mark. Ellen Rethwisch and Morgan Bruns earned the assists on CC's first goal of the game.

Concordia took the lead in the game in the final minute of play in the second period. Freshman Amanda Flemming scored her first collegiate goal at 19:05 and then senior Amber Schaack jammed home a rebound just before the buzzer sounded  to give Concordia a 3-2 lead. Amelia Amon was credited with the assist on Flemming's goal and Rethwisch and Nelson both earned their second point of the game on Schaack's score.

Stevens Point scored the final goal of the game 14-seconds into the power play. A shot from between the circles found its way between the players camped in front of goal and eluded CC goalie Andrea Klug.

Both teams would have quality chances to get the game winner in the final 15 minutes of play but neither could find the back of the net. Stevens Point had two power plays but couldn't convert on either. UWSP was staked to a 5-on-4 advantage with 54-seconds left in regulation but couldn't earn the game winner in the final seconds of the third period or into the overtime frame.

Stevens Point outshot Concordia 23-19. Schaack led all players with seven shots on goal. Nelson was the only other CC player with more than one shot on net. She finished with four shots for the game.

Klug made 20 saves in goal for Concordia to remain unbeaten on the season.

OPTIMISITC OPENING WEEKEND: The Cobbers went 1-0-1 on the opening weekend of the year which marks the first time since the 2012-13 season that they haven't lost in the first two games of the year. That season CC beat Concordia (Wis.) and then tied St. Norbert.   

NEW SEASON, SAME SHOOTING THREAT: Cobber senior Amber Schaack has picked up right where she left off last year. Schaack was third in the MIAC in shots on goal last year and had seven shots in each game of the weekend. Her 7.0 shots per game average is tops in the MIAC this year. 

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia open MIAC play next weekend when they travel to the St. Cloud area to take on St. Benedict. The Cobbers will square off against the Blazers on Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. in Sartell and then head up Interstate 94 to finish off the series in Alexandria on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 5:00 p.m. St. Benedict is 2-0 on the season after sweeping Northland. Last year the Cobbers swept the series in Moorhead.