Quick Start But Slow Finish Leads To Loss

BLAINE, Minn. (11/01/15)—Concordia scored 16-seconds into the first period but then allowed two goals in the third and lost 4-2 to St. Olaf on the second day of the annual MIAC Showcase.

Jordan Krebsbach's unassisted goal at the 16-second mark gave the Cobbers a quick 1-0 lead but then Concordia was outscored 4-1 in the final 59:44 of play and lost for the first time this season.

The Cobbers outshot the Oles 34-32 but were outshot 16-11 in the final 20 minutes of play n the decisive third period. Another deciding factor in the game came on the power play where CC was held scoreless in four attempts for the afternoon.

Krebsbach's first goal of the season held up until midway through the first frame when the Oles tied the game at 1-1 with an even-strength tally at 9:49.

Concordia would retake the one-goal lead midway through the second period when freshman Jake Zeleznikar fired home his first collegiate goal 17 seconds after the Cobbers missed on the power play attempt. St. Olaf was never able to clear the zone and Zeleznikar put CC up 2-1 with an assist from junior Jeremy Johnson.

The lead would be short-lived as St. Olaf tied the game for the second time 1:50 after Zeleznikar's goal.

The teams would skate into the second intermission tied at 2-2 and then Concordia was given a golden opportunity to seize momentum when they were awarded a power play in the fourth minute of the final period. The Cobbers had five shots and four shots on goal but couldn't capitalize.

The Oles actually seized momentum in the game at the end of the power play when they almost scored a shorthanded goal but the shot ended up hitting the post.

Concordia was then bottled up in their own end for the next five minutes as the Oles had nine shots before scoring the game-winning goal at 10:22.

The Cobbers had few chances to tie the game in the second half of the period and their three shots on goal were all stopped by the St. Olaf goalie.

Johnson had a team-high six shots in the game while Krebsbach, Zeleznikar and Jordie Bancroft all had four shots each in the 34-shot attack for Concordia.

Alex Reichle, who earned his second start in as many games, stopped 28 shots and is now 1-1-0 on the season.

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will open up MIAC play next weekend when they travel to St. Cloud to take on St. John's on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7&8. Both games will be played at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.