3-Goal Hole Too Much To Dig Out Of In Series-Opening Loss

MOORHEAD, Minn. (02/12/22)---A 4-1 hole was too big to climb out of for the Cobbers as they dropped a 5-3 decision in Moorhead at the Cullen Hockey Center.

Concordia conceded four consecutive goals from the final five minutes of the first period to the first seven minutes of the second frame to turn a 1-0 lead into a 4-1 deficit.

The loss is the second straight for the Cobbers who are now 11-9-2 and 8-4-1 in the MIAC. It also drops CC into third place in the league standings with three games remaining in the regular season.

Senior All-American Tyler Bossert opened the scoring when he notched an even-strength goal at 7:05 of the first period. The goal would be the first of two for Bossert on the day and was assisted by Hunter Bjorge and Cole O'Connell.

Bethel started their quartet of goals at 14:48 of the first period. They would add a second, exactly 1-minute later at 15:58 and then a third at 19:38 to take a 3-1 lead into the first break.

The Royals finished off their streak of four with a power play goal at 6:57 of the middle period.

Bossert ended the BU run with his second strike of the game. He stopped the Royals' momentum just 30-seconds after the final of the four goals. O'Connell earned his second straight helper and Kevin Ness made it a full line scoring play.

Ness would bring CC to within two goals before the second intermission. He netted a power play goal at 15:48 with the help of Bossert and Alex Stoley.

Concordia continued to try and climb all the way out of the 3-goal hole and pressed the BU net continually in the third period. CC had several quality chances miss the net, before they were awarded a power play midway through the third. Instead of getting the equalizer, the Cobbers gave up a shorthanded strike on a breakaway which took the wind completely out of the sails of the Concordia comeback schooner.

The Cobbers held a 36-25 edge in shots, and both teams went 1-for-2 on the power play.

The 3-point game for Bossert ups his league-leading point total to 30 for the season. He becomes the first 30-point scorer for the Cobbers since he accomplished the feat with a 39-point season in 2019. Bossert now has 97 career points, and needs three points to become the first 100-point scorer for CC since Greg Salvevold in 1998.            

UP NEXT: Concordia will try and gain a split in the series when they square off against Bethel in a rare Sunday morning affair. The Cobbers will host the Royals on Sunday, Feb. 13 at 10:45 a.m. at the Cullen Hockey Center.