Similar 3-2 Score Line Gives Cobbers Series Sweep

MOORHEAD, Minn. (1/21/23)---The Cobbers liked their 3-2 win on Friday night at Bethel so much, they duplicated that score line less than 24 hours later.

Liam Haslam's overtime goal gave Concordia a 3-2 victory which gave CC a sweep in the 2-game series.

The two wins net Concordia five points in the MIAC standings, which gives them 11 points for the season and catapults them back in the thick of the 5-team conference playoff race.

CC is now 7-9-1 in all games and 4-4-0 in league play.

Bethel gets swept for the first time in conference play this season. BU only takes one point from the series and is in fourth place with 15 points. The Royals are 9-9-1 overall and 4-5-1 in the MIAC.

Junior goalie Matt Fitzgerald turned in one of the key performances of the game. He came through with the start of his college career by stopping 38 of the 40 shots he faced. Fitzgerald earned the win in both games on the weekend, and will be in the running for MIAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. His 38 saves are a career high.  

The Cobbers only trailed for 1:33 in the series finale. The teams skated through a scoreless first period, before Bethel opened the scoring in the third minute of the middle period.

Mason Plante tied the game 1:33 later when he scored an even-strength goal at 3:55. The goals was Plante's seventh of the season, and was set up by Joe Harguindeguy.

Harguindeguy would set up the go-ahead goal at the 8:31 mark of the third period. CC was staked to a power play at 7:50, and then Cole O'Connell gave CC a 2-1 lead 41-seconds into the extra skater session. Harguindeguy earned his second assist of the game, and fourth point of the series, on the PP goal. Plante recorded his ninth assist on the play.

Bethel would tie game in the final four minutes of regulation with an even-strength goal at 16:40.

The Cobbers wasted little time in the overtime period to get the game winner. Bauer Barry had the puck in the Bethel zone on the right side boards. He was able to find Haslam who was speeding across the blue line and was wide at the top of the faceoff circles. Haslam took the pass and fired a shot that beat the BU goalie on the ice.

The game winner was Haslam's second strike of the year. O'Connell was awarded the second assist on the GWG.

UP NEXT: Concordia returns home to host its first MIAC series of 2023. The Cobbers will face St. Olaf on Jan. 27-28 at the Moorhead Sports Center.