Cold Front Rolls Over Cobbers In MIAC Opener

MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/10/22)---The current winter storm cold front rolled into St. Cloud midway through the second period when Concordia watched a close 4-3 game against St. John's turn into a frigid 7-3 defeat in the MIAC opener for both teams.  

The loss is the second straight for the Cobbers who are now 2-3-0 on the season. St. John's wins for the second straight game and is now 3-1-0 for the year.

The key points in the game were a pair of 3-goal runs by the Johnnies. The Cobbers grabbed a 2-1 lead on a power play goal from Cole O'Connell at the 15:07 mark of the first period, but then St. John's rattled off their first 3-goal streak to take a 4-2 lead with 12:08 left in the second period. O'Connell would strike again at 9:30 of the middle frame to bring CC within one at 4-3. The Johnnies started their second 3-goal run less than 2-minutes after O'Connell's second marker of the game.

Another key to the series opener between the teams was the play on special teams. The Cobbers were 1-for-3 on the power play, while SJU scored three of their seven goals with the man advantage. CC also conceded a shorthanded goal that tied the game at 1-1.      

Hanson O'Leary staked the Cobbers to a 1-0 lead when he scored his third goal of the year at 9:22 of the first period. Jaret Lalli and Hunter Olson had the assists on the opening goal of the game. For Lalli it was his team-leading fifth helper of the year.

O'Connell's first goal, which gave CC a 2-1 lead with 4:43 left in the first, came on the power play and was assisted by freshman Joe Harguindeguy and sophomore Jack Westlund.

The second nugget from O'Connell in the second period pushed his season total to four which currently leads Concordia. Harguindeguy recorded his second assist on the goal and Hunter Bjorge was credited with the other assist.

Concordia was outshot 31-28 for the three periods. Freshman Caden Triggs led the Cobbers with six shots, while Lalli and O'Connell added four shots each.

Aaron Dickstein made his second start of the season in goal and made 24 saves.    

UP NEXT: The two teams will finish off their series when they play at the Moorhead Sports Center on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.