Seeing The Sweep Through The Foresters

PRIOR LAKE, Minn. (11/26/11)-- Concordia scored four consecutive goals in the first three periods and beat Lake Forest (Ill.) 4-1 in a non-conference game in Prior Lake, Minn on Saturday. With the win the Cobbers sweep the Foresters in a battle of teams receiving votes in the latest USCHO national rankings.

Concordia had four players score on Saturday as they improve their overall record to 4-1-1 on the year. Sophomore Abby Taffe and freshman Madison Gendreau had a goal and an assist each to lead the Cobbers. Brooke Rundell and Kelsey Vandegrift also notched goals for CC.

The Cobbers had the jump in the game from the opening faceoff. they were able to beat the Foresters to loose pucks and were quicker through the neutral zone. Gendreau gave CC the lead in the ninth minute of play when she slammed home a rebound in front of the net. It was Gendreau's third goal of the year. Rundell recorded her second goal in as many days when she gave the Cobbers a 2-0 lead at 16:20 of the first period.

CC would hold on to the two-goal lead heading into the second period after outshooting the Foresters 10-3 in the opening period of play.

Concordia added to the lead less than two minutes into the second period. Vandegrift tipped in a shot from the point to post her second collegiate goal. Ali Nelson took the shot from the blue line and then the puck was redirected by Katelyn Dold before Vandegrift adeptly tipped the puck past the Lake Forest goalie.

The Cobbers weren't able to score for the remainder of the period despite posting a 17-8 advantage in shots on goal.

The Cobbers added their fourth straight goal at the start of the third period when Taffe connected on her team-leading sixth goal of the season. Gendreau picked up the helper on the play.

Lake Forest (6-4-1) finally got on the board when Kim Herring beat the CC defense on the right wing, cut in towards the net and then went top shelf against Cobber goalie Tamara Twite. 

Concordia wound up outshooting the Lakers 34-16 for the game. Twite made 15 saves to earn her team-leading third win of the year. Jenna Brankin stopped 30 shots for the Foresters and was saddled with only her second defeat of the year.

The Cobbers will now have a critical MIAC series next weekend when they play at St. Thomas on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2-3.