Defense Travels Well

HANCOCK, Mich. (12/08/17)---The Cobber defense travels well. After a 9-hour bus ride, Concordia limited Finlandia to 18 shots and blanked the Lions 2-0 in the series opener between the teams.

Concordia hadn't recorded a shutout in Minnesota this season but then went outstate to discover their old ways. Last year the Cobbers recorded four shutouts while this season they had allowed less than two goals on only one occasion.

The Cobbers didn't concede more than seven shots on goal in any period against Finlandia as they went on to gain their fifth win of the season. CC is unbeaten in its last three games as they upped their overall record to 5-3-2.   

It looked like the Concordia offense didn't travel that well as it took the Cobbers 29 minutes until they could get on the board. CC only had eight shots on goal in the first 20 minutes of play as the teams skated to the first intermission deadlocked at 0-0.

The game-winning goal came midway through the second period when Megan Dondelinger scored an even-strength goal at the 9-minute mark. Dondelinger's fourth goal of the year was assisted by Emily Goff and turned out to be the game-winning tally.

Concordia would add the insurance marker in the final minute of the middle period. Freshman Marissa Herdt scored her second collegiate goal at 19:28 to push the lead to 2-0. Fellow first-year player Maiah McCowan was credited with the assist on the goal.

The Cobber defense then put the clamps on the Finlandia (2-7-1) offense in the third period. Concordia allowed four shots in the 20 minutes and only allowed one shot on goal when the teams were at full strength. CC gave up a shot when they were killing off a penalty and then allowed two shots on goal in the final minute of play after the Lions had pulled their goalie.

Concordia outshot Finlandia 34-18 in the game. Amanda Flemming and Josee Lundgren had five shots each to lead CC.

Sophomore goalie Amy Jost turned aside all 18 shots she faced to earn her first shutout as a Cobber. She also lowered her season goals against average to 1.61 in picking up her team-leading third win of the year.

DONDEWINNER: Megan Dondelinger now has four goals on the season and two have been game winners. She also scored the decisive goal in the Cobbers' victory at home against St. Catherine on Nov. 10.

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia and Finlandia will finish their two-game series in Hancock on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 11 a.m. That game will be the last for the Cobbers in 2017.