Special Teams Take A Holiday

MOORHEAD, Minn. (1/7/12)— No.9-ranked Concordia gave up four goals on special teams and lost 6-1 to Lindenwood (Mo.) on Saturday. The Cobbers gave up two power play scores and a pair of shorthanded goals and watched their six-game winning streak come to an end.

Less than 24 hours after edging the NCAA Division I Lions 4-3 on Friday, the Cobbers were outmuscled and beat to all the loose pucks as they allowed four consecutive goals in the second and third periods and lost for only the second time all season. Concordia is now 8-2-1 on the year. Lindenwood finally ends their 10-game losing skid and ups their overall record to 2-20-0.

Lindenwood freshman forward Alison Wickenheiser and the Lions' intensity in all three periods were the differences in the game on Saturday. Wickenheiser accounted for all four of Lindenwood's special teams goals and added an even-strength tally in the second period to post a five-goal game.

The Lions jumped all over the Cobbers in the first period and scored the only two goals of the frame. The score could have been much worse had it not been for CC netminder Tamara Twite who stopped 18 of LU's 20 shots in the first 20 minutes of play. The Cobbers even killed off an extended 5-on-3 situation thanks in large part to Twite's ability to stop point-blank shots. Lindenwood wound up outshooting Concordia 20-7 in the first period.

Despite being outplayed in the opening frame, CC cut the lead to just one goal early in the second period when Abby Taffe connected on a power play goal at the 2:10 mark. Katelyn Dold and Madison Gendreau picked up the assists on Taffe's team-leading ninth goal of the year.       

The key moment of the game came less than four minutes later with the Cobbers on the power play. Instead of getting a chance to tie the game, Concordia allowed the first of two shorthanded goals and never recovered. Wickenheiser's second goal of the game at 5:58 pushed the lead to 3-1 and deflated the spirits of the rejuvenated Cobbers.

Wickenheiser would go on to add two more goals in the final 2:00 of play in the second period and finished off the scoring by netting a breakaway goal with Lindenwood killing off a penalty midway through the third period.

The Lions outshot the Cobbers 40-29 in the game. LU goalie Taylor Fairchild stopped 28 shots to earn her second win of the year. CC split the goaltending duties between Twite and Desiree Goret. Twite made 25 saves in the first 39:16 and Goret finished off the game by turning aside nine shots in the final 20:44.

Concordia will return to conference play in two weeks when they host St. Ben's on Jan. 20-21. The Cobbers are currently in second place in the league standings.