Trading Chances But Not Goals In Series Opener

MOORHEAD, Minn. (12/03/21)---Concordia traded chances with No.4-ranked Augsburg, but it was the Auggies who made the most of their opportunities and came away with a 3-1 in the series opener at the Moorhead Sports Center.

The Cobbers outshot the unbeaten Auggies 24-21 but couldn't get on the board until the final seconds of the third period.

The 2-goal loss brings the Cobbers' records to the 500-level on both accounts. CC is now 4-4-2 in their first 10 games of the year. They are now 2-2-1 in the MIAC. Augsburg extends their win streak to seven games to start the year. The Auggies are 7-0-0 overall and 3-0-0 in conference play.  

Concordia allowed a single goal in each period. The first strike came in the 17th minute of the opening period. The teams went back-and-forth for the first 15 minutes of play. The Auggies capitalized on a 3-on-3 rush up ice and took a 1-0 lead at the 16:32 mark.

The eventual game-winning goal came on the power play in the first minute of the second period. The Auggies controlled the puck from the opening faceoff and were able to control the puck in the Concordia end. The goal came after an initial shot from between the faceoff circles was stopped by Cobber goalie Jackson Nelson and bounced straight up. The puck was then batted out of the air by an Auggie player and went into the net. Concordia players argued that the puck was played above the shoulders, but without video review, the goal at the 34-second mark was allowed to stand.

The Cobbers had a power play chance to start the third period, but couldn't get on the board. CC then had to kill off a trio of penalties in the period, including a 5-on-3 situation midway through the frame.

Augsburg added their third goal on a 197-foot empty net shot. Concordia pulled Nelson with 1:55 left in regulation. They were able to keep the puck in the Auggie zone until an Augsburg player got control of the puck next to his own net and fired the puck the length of the ice and straight into the CC goal.

Concordia would break the shutout attempt with 18-seconds remaining on a beautiful spin and shoot move from senior Keaton Leininger. Parker Simonson brought the puck into the Augsburg zone on the right sideboards. He cut into the middle of the zone and dropped the puck for Leininger. Leinginger controlled the puck going towards the left wall, but then stopped and spun back into the middle of the ice and fired a shot all in one motion. Leininger's wrist shot was a liner that found the top right corner of the net.            

The goal at 19:42 was Leininger's first of the season. Simonson and Tanner Breidenbach earned the assists on the goal.

Nelson finished with 18 saves in the game.

Concordia was 0-for-4 on the power play, while the Auggies went 1-for-7 with the lone power play goal turning out to be the game winner.  
 
UP NEXT: Concordia will look to split the series when they square off against the Auggies on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. at the Moorhead Sports Center.   

CONCORDIA vs. AUGSBURG SERIES HIGHLIGHTS