Second Half Stops Playoff Push

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (2/25/17)--- All the signs were positive for Concordia midway through their MIAC semifinal game at Augsburg. The Cobbers led 1-0 and had a slight edge in shots goal. The second half of the game wasn't as kind to the Cobbers as CC allowed three straight goals and fell 3-1.

The loss in the conference semifinal game ends another successful season for Concordia. The Cobbers finish the year with a 14-9-3 record. The 14 wins ties for the second most in program history. Augsburg improves to 19-7-0 and advances to host St. Thomas in the MIAC title game.

Both teams had chances in the first period as the teams combined for 19 shots on goal. Concordia held an 11-8 edge in shots. Both teams also had two power play chances but were unable to score in their opportunities.

The scoring, and power play, drought was ended in the ninth minute of the second period. The Cobbers were awarded their third power play chance of the game after a slashing penalty at 8:07. Concordia won the faceoff and applied constant pressure to the Auggie net, getting off three shots on goal in the first 40 seconds of the man advantage.

The opening goal of the game came when freshman Amanda Flemming got control of the puck just inside the blueline in the middle of the ice. Flemming then fired a shot which eluded the pile of players in front of the goal and went by the Augsburg goalie who never saw the puck after it went through the scrum in front of the net.

Chelsey Petrich and Jess Nelson were given the assists on the play after the two fought to keep possession of the puck on the left sideboards.

The goal at 8:53 was Flemming's 10th of the year and she becomes the fourth Cobber to record a double-digit goal total on the season.

Concordia's lead would be short-lived as the Auggies countered with an even strength goal at 10:07.

The game would stay knotted at 1-1 until the 1-minute mark of the third period. Augsburg scored the game-winning goal on their second shot of the period after winning the opening draw and gaining control of the CC defensive end.

Both teams pushed for the all-important "next goal" and both teams had multiple shots on goal before the Auggies got the insurance goal at 12:51.

Concordia tried to get back in the game and had three shots on goal in the next three minutes of play. CC then pulled goalie Andrea Klug at the 18:22 mark but a checking penalty at 19:01 forced the Cobbers to play even up for the remaining 59 seconds.

Augsburg finished with a 37-30 advantage in shots on goal. Flemming and Nelson both had a team-high five shots on goal while Amber Schaack and Tori Davis added four shots each.

Klug finished with 34 saves.