An AUSpicious Opener

BLAINE, Minn. (10/31/15) --- Senior defenseman Charlie Aus had a hand in all three goals as Concordia beat Bethel 3-2 in the first game of the 2015-16 season. 

Aus scored the game-winning goal and added two assists in the opening win of the year. The three-point game is a career high for the veteran blueliner who added four shots in the Cobbers' 41-shot attack.

Concordia outshot the Royals 41-21 but had to hang on in the final moments of the third period to preserve the victory.

The Cobbers got on the board midway through the first period when sophomore Jon Grebosky netted the team's first goal of the season. Grebosky scored on the very first power play of the season with helpers going to Aus and freshman Jake Zeleznikar.

Concordia outshot Bethel 11-8 in the first 20 minutes of play and took a 1-0 lead into the break.

The Cobbers won the game in the second period when they scored a pair of goals and outshot BU 15-13.

Bethel tied the score at 1-1 less than 1-minute into the middle frame before freshman Matt O'Dea reclaimed the one-goal lead at the 4-minute mark. O'Dea's first collegiate tally came at 4:00 with helpers from Aus and freshman Mario Bianchi.

Aus would put up the game winner 3:03 after O'Dea's nugget. He scored his seventh career goal for the Cobbers at the 7:03 mark and that would be all that CC would need for the win. Grebosky picked up his second point of the night on the play. Zach Doerring was also credited with an assist.

Concordia would have eight more shots on goal in the middle period and then tack on 15 more in the third period but couldn't get a fourth shot past BU goalie Tucker Murphy who was named the first star of the game.

Bethel got to within one goal at 17:20 of the second frame when they netted a power play goal. The goal came on only the Royal's second shot of the period.

The game was more wide open in the third period with the team combining for 25 shots. Cobber goalie Alex Reichle was equal to the task of the intensified pressure. He stopped all 10 shots in the 20 minutes to preserve the victory.

Reichle finished with 19 saves and picks up the seventh win of his career.

Both teams scored one power play goal. Concordia scored on their opening man-advantage situation but then went 0-for-5 for the rest of the game. Bethel was 1-for-3 on the power play as CC was whistled for only three penalties.

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will finish off the MIAC Showcase on Sunday when they play St. Olaf at 2:30 p.m. The Oles tied Bethel 5-5 on Friday in the opening day of the showcase.