Momentum Gained For The Playoffs

MOORHEAD, Minn. (2/18/17)---Concordia used a five-goal first period to beat Bethel 73 and regain their explosive offensive ways and gather momentum as they head into the conference playoffs.

The Cobbers washed out the bad taste of a three-goal loss on Friday by tying their season high in goals scored. The five goals in the first period is also a season high for a 20-minute period.

The win in the regular-season finale ups Concordia's record to 14-8-3 overall and CC finishes conference play with an 11-5-2 record. The 11 MIAC wins ties for the second most in program history.

After failing to score until the third period on Friday night Concordia made sure there would be no repeat performance. CC started its scoring barrage at the 3:56 mark when Jessica Kongelf tallied her third goal of the year.

Bethel would tie the game less than a minute later but then goals by Maddie Ellingson, Sage Barta, Abbie Canton and Emily Goff in a span of 7-minutes, 26-seconds put the game out of reach.

The Royals would score the only goal of the second period and then get to within 5-3 with a goal just 38-seconds into the third period. Kongelf would answer the BU early goal by scoring her second goal of the game at the 1:20 mark. Bruns would then add final insurance marker at 11:34.

Concordia dominated play in the first period by outshooting Bethel 18-10. The Cobbers finished the game by being outshot 38-34 for the game.

Kongelf put up a team-high six shots and Amber Schaack added four.

Concordia used two goalies for the second straight game. Senior Andrea Klug played the first 54:46 and made 31 saves. Freshman Sarah Stelter then stepped between the pipes for her first collegiate game action. She played the final 5:14, made four saves and didn't allow a goal.

Both teams were 1-for-4 on the power for the game.

KING KONG: Senior Jessica Kongelf posted the fourth multiple-goal game of her career. Kongelf also had a pair of goals against St. Benedict on Nov. 12 in a 7-6 win. The Cobbers are now 4-0 when Kongelf scores more than one goal in a game.

DEAD HEAT: Senior Ellen Rethwisch assisted on Abbie Canton's goal at 16:03 of the first period. The point for the assist pushed her into a tie for the team lead in points at the end of the regular season. Rethwisch now has 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 points which is equal t fellow senior Jess Nelson who has 13 goals and eight assists for 21 points.

WE'RE NO.1: The seven-goal outburst against Bethel helped Concordia win the regular-season title for goals scored by an MIAC team. CC scored 79 goals in their 25 games this year which was six better than Augsburg.

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will now head to the MIAC playoffs as the No.3 seed. That means they will head out on the road for one of the two semifinal games. The Cobbers will travel to Minneapolis to take on Augbsurg on Saturday, Feb. 25. The time of the game has yet to be determined. The Cobbers and Auggies split their regular-season series in Moorhead with CC winning the opener 4-1 and then Augsburg claiming the finale 5-3.