Third-Period Flurry Yields No Goals

RIVER FALLS, WIS. (1/09/16)—A flurry of shots in the third period failed to produce the game-tying goal and Concordia lost 1-0 at No.14-ranked Wis.-River Falls.

The Cobbers outshot the Falcons 13-2 in the final period of play and had three power play attempts stopped as they were shutout for only the second time this season.

The difference in the game proved to be an even-strength goal in the seventh minute of the second period. After that point Concordia sophomore netminder Alex Reichle stopped all nine shots he faced to keep CC within striking distance.

Concordia has their two-game unbeaten streak come to and drops back to the .500 level after their final non-conference game of the season. CC is now 6-6-1 heading into the remainder of the MIAC schedule. River Falls wins for the fifth straight game and is unbeaten in its last eight contests. The Falcons bump their overall mark to 10-4-2.

River Falls scored the game-winning goal after Concordia had killed off a penalty. Just over a minute later the Falcons' offensive pressure was rewarded when they scored at 6:41.

The best chances for Concordia came in the third where they held the 11-shot advantage. The Cobbers came close to tying the game on the power play starting at the 13:29 mark. Concordia put up five shots in a three-minute span which ran a minute after the teams were at full strength. Jon Grebosky, Charlie Aus, Jake Stilwell and Jordie Bancroft all had shots but each time River Falls goalie Tanner Milliron came up with big saves.

Concordia pulled Reichle with 1:02 left in regulation but were never able to get a shot on goal.

The Cobbers were outshot 27-23 for the game. Zach Doerring led all players with four shots on goal. Grebosky, Aus and Jeremy Johnson had three shots each.

THE GLASS IS HALF FULL
While the offense struggled to score, Reichle and the Cobber defense posted another strong performance after the Christmas break. Reichle made 26 saves in the game and reorded his second straight one-goal game. The last time Concordia only allowed one goal in back-to-back games was the 2013-14 season. It was only the third time all season that River Falls had been held under two goals in a contest.

POWER PLAY PERPLEXES
Concordia has some of the best offensive talent they have had in recent years but continue to struggle on the power play. The Cobbers were held scoreless in four power play attempts on Saturday and have gone 35 straight power play attempts without scoring a goal. CC is just 2-for-51 (3.9%) on the power play this year which is last in the MIAC and 75th out of 76 teams in Division III.

WHAT'S NEXT
Concordia will jump back into MIAC next weekend with a two-game series at Hamline. The Cobbers and Pipers will square off on Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the Oscar Johnson Arena. Hamline is 4-7-4 overall and 1-4-1 in the MIAC and tied Wis.-Stout 4-4 on Friday.