Unstoppable Force Prevails

MOORHEAD , Minn. (1/20/17)--- In the league-leading battle between the immovable object and the unstoppable force it was the unstoppable force that prevailed.

Breakaway goals and shots from the point propelled the conference's top offense, Concordia, to a 4-1 win over the league's best defense - No.10-ranked Augsburg.

The Cobbers scored two goals on breakaways in the first period and then added goals from the point in each of the second and third periods to post the win over the Auggies who entered the series on a two-game winning streak and tied with CC atop the conference standings.

Concordia uses the win to jump ahead of Augsburg and move to 11-4-0 in all games and 8-1-0 in the MIAC. The Auggies are now 11-5-0 and 7-2-0 in league play.

Augsburg held more of the offensive zone time in the game but Concordia used its quickness and pressure forecheck to produce more quality chances.

The Cobbers got a huge lift from an unlikely source as the team's fourth line netted the opening goal of the game. Megan Dondelinger and Sara Baumann combined to get the puck out of the CC zone and into the neutral zone where they found sophomore Sage Barta flying down the right wing.

Barta took control of the puck at the Augsburg blue line, skated towards the right side of the crease and then fired a puck over the left shoulder of the Auggie goalie.

The goal at 7:27 of the opening period was Barta's first collegiate goal with Dondelinger and Baumann each earning their first collegiate assists.

While the opening goal for the Cobbers came via a goal-scoring newcomer it was a scoring veteran who notched the second goal.

Junior Tori Davis took control of the puck just outside the Augsburg blue line, skated in between a pair of defenders and then juked a third before going high inside the right post.

The eventual game-winning goal started on the stick of CC goalie Andrea Klug who played the puck to Morgan Bruns. Bruns then pushed the puck up the ice to Davis for the power play score at 18:57.

Augsburg found an extra gear at the start of the second period and took it to the Cobbers for the first 10 minutes of the period. They were rewarded for their renewed effort with a power play goal at 6:27.

CC then killed off a penalty midway through the middle frame before defenseman Chelsey Petrich scored the game-changing goal. Concordia was struggling to find offensive zone time and finally was able to get the puck in the Augsburg end.

The puck was played back to Petrich from the left corner. She received the puck in the middle of the ice, drifted to her right and then sent a wrist shot back towards the left side of the goal. Davis was in front and screening the Auggie goalie and the puck knifed its way through the traffic and into the goal.

The teams were even in shots on goal at 18-18 entering the third period.  Cobber goalie Andrea Klug and the penalty kill unit came up huge to start the final frame. Klug stopped a breakaway in the first minute of the period with CC on a power play and then Concordia killed off a hooking penalty at 2:13 and a checking call at 6:43.

Concordia put the game out of reach midway through the third when Davis found herself in front of the Augsburg net again and this time was able to tip in a shot from the point.

Cobber senior Jessica Kongelf won a draw on the right faceoff circle. The puck was then played back to the right point where Emily Goff fired it toward the goal. Davis then redirected the shot past the goalie for Concordia's fourth goal of the game.

Concordia was content to play a more defensive-orientated game in the third period and allow the Auggies to take shots from the wall.

Augsburg wound up outshooting the Cobbers 35-20 in the game. Senior Amber Schaack had a team-high five shots.                     

Klug, the reigning MIAC Player of the Week, made 34 saves in the game. It is the first time all season that she has had to make more than 30 saves in the game.

UNSTOPPABLE FORCE: The Cobber offense continues to click this season. The four-goal output on Friday marked the ninth time this year they have scored at least three goals. Concordia leads the MIAC in goals scored with 50. They are the only team in the league who is averaging more than 2.70 goals per game.   

GOALIE WARS: The game featured two of the top goalies in the conference. Augsburg netminder Rebecca Sonnek entered the weekend with a league-leading goals against mark of 0.73. The four goals allowed upped her season mark to 1.00 which still leads the MIAC. The four goals allowed is the most she has allowed in single game this season. Klug entered the game with a league-best nine wins and now has 10 which is tied for fifth most in Division III. She has now allowed fewer than three goals in 10 games this year.

DAVIS DOUBLE: Tori Davis had two goals in the game which marked the third time this year she has scored two in a game. She also had two goals in three games last year. The Cobbers are now 3-0 this year when she scores twice in a game.  

WHAT'S NEXT: The Cobber will look to continue their offensive ways when the teams meet in the series finale on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. at the Moorhead Sports Center. Concordia is 4-2-1 in games played on a Saturday this year while Augsburg is 5-1-0.  

CONCORDIA vs. AUGSBURG HIGHLIGHTS: