Slow Start Gives Way To 4 Straight In Series-Opening Win

MOORHEAD, Minn. (1/27/23)---The first 7-minutes of the Cobbers' series opener with St. Olaf didn't go how head coach Kirk Olimb had planned it out. Concordia gave up a goal in the third minute of play and were having all kinds of trouble breaking the puck out of their own zone.

The Cobbers turned the game in their favor when they scored the first of their four consecutive goals on a 4-on-4 situation midway through the first period, and used that momentum grabber to roll to a 5-2 win over the Oles.

The win is the third straight for the Cobbers and brings them within a point for the fifth, and final, playoff spot. CC is now 8-9-1 overall and 5-4-0 in the MIAC. St. Olaf loses for the third straight game and is now 11-8-1 in all games and 5-6-0 in league play.

Concordia trailed early when St. Olaf scored on a wraparound at the 2:59 mark.

That would be the only goal for the Oles until 6:12 of the third – and Concordia had countered with four straight strikes.

The Cobbers tied the game on one of the goals of the year. Freshman Bauer Barry gained possession of the puck just outside the Olaf blueline and then put a slick move on the Ole defender to get free at the top of the faceoff circle. He then snapped home a shot that flew just under the top right corner of the net.

The equalizer at 10:36 was Barry's first college goal and was assisted by Cole O'Connell.

Concordia took their first lead of the game in the final minute of the period. CC went on the power play and were able to control the puck. Isaac Henkemeyer-Howe fired a shot from the blue line that was saved by the Ole goalie. The rebound was tangled up in a pile of players around the crease, but the play was never whistled to stop. Freshman Joe Harguindeguy pounced on the chance and slid the puck home for his team-leading ninth goal of the year.

The Cobbers scored the only two goals in the second period. Senior Jacen Bracko used his speed to gain a breakaway at the Olaf blueline, and then put a nifty move on the goalie to spot CC to a 3-1 lead at the 14:10 mark. The game-winning goal was Bracko's second of the year and was set up by fellow senior Cole Thompson.  

Caden Triggs pushed the lead to 4-1 when he tipped in a shot at the 16:56 mark. The goal was Triggs' fifth of the year. Bracko and Cole Lehmann were awarded the assists.

St. Olaf would get one back on a 5-on-3 power play at 6:12 of the third, but then Henkemeyer-Howe finished the game off with a goal at 13:19. Henkemeyer-Howe was the recipient of a perfect pass from Troy Dahlheimer after the duo broke free on a 2-on-1 in the Olaf zone. Braden Costello had the second assist on the final goal of the game.

Concordia held a 32-16 advantage in shots on goal. O'Connell led all players with six shots.

Junior Matt Fitzgerald earned his third consecutive win in goal. He turned aside 14 shots and is now 4-1 on the season.    

UP NEXT: The Cobbers will go for their second straight conference sweep when they host St. Olaf on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. at the Moorhead Sports Center.