Cobbers Drop Conference Opener

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (11/9/23)---Concordia gave up four consecutive goals in the first and second periods and lost 5-2 at St. Benedict in the conference opener for both teams.

The Cobbers opened the scoring in their first action in 12 days in the seventh minute of the opening period, but then the Bennies put up four straight before the teams traded goals at the end of the second and third periods.

Concordia is 1-1-0 on the season, while St. Ben's moves to 1-3-0.

First-year player Taylyn Cope netted her second goal in as many games when she scored an even-strength goal at 6:03 of the first period. Abbey Reule and Taylor Severson were awarded the assists on the rebound goal.

St. Ben's tied the score midway through the first period and took a 2-1 lead at the 16:08 mark. They would add to their lead in the middle frame's third minute and then extend the lead to 4-1 at 14:36.

Senior Jerica Friese would stop the 4-goal streak when she netted her first goal of the season on a power play with 1:36 left in the period. The Cobbers won the draw to start the power play and didn't relinquish the puck until it was in the back of the CSB goal. McKenzie Oelkers slid the puck over to Grace Doerring at the left point, and Doerring fired a shot towards the goal. Friese was stationed in front of the net and was able to tip the puck past the Bennie netminder.

Neither team was able to score in the third period until CSB came up with an empty net strike at 19:46 after Concordia pulled goalie Hailee Bailey at the 19:10 mark.

The Bennies held a 27-22 advantage in shots on goal. Concordia had the only power play goal in the game. CC was 1-for-4 with the player advantage, and St. Ben's was 1-for-5 with their only goal on the power play coming on the last empty-net tally.

Oelkers and Paige Hanson led Concordia with four shots on goal. Bailey made 22 saves in her first start of the year.

UP NEXT: The same teams will finish the 2-game series on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. at the Moorhead Sports Center.