Shutout Streak Ended, Win Streak Alive

Moorhead, Minn. (11/28/15)—One streak ended and one streak continued. Andrea Klug saw her shutout streak stopped at the beginning of the second period in Concordia's 5-2 win over Marian (Wis.).

Klug allowed a goal in the fourth minute of the middle period and saw her record-breaking shutout streak end after 273 minutes of play. That storyline proved to be just a side story as the Cobbers got three goals from junior Jess Nelson and beat the Sabres 5-2 to earn their fifth consecutive victory.

The win pushes Concordia's overall record to 5-2-0 on the year. CC started the season by dropping a pair of games to nationally-ranked Wis.-Stevens Point but since then has rattled off five straight victories.

Nelson provided the majority of the offense as she scored a goal towards the end of each period to record her first career hat trick. Nelson had four career goals in her first two seasons at Concordia nearly doubled that mark in one game as she netted her second, third and fourth goals of the season against Marian.

Her first goal, at 17:14 of the first period, opened the scoring after the teams through the first 17 minutes of play without any dangerous chances. Her first goal came after she intercepted the puck in the neutral zone, skated the puck into the Sabre defensive zone and then split the defense to skate in all alone on the goalie.

Nelson then faked going to her backhand before putting the puck on her forehand and beating the Marian goalie to the right side of the goal.

Klug needed to make only one save in the first period of play to extend her shutout streak to 270 minutes.

The end of the streak came on a solo chance from Hailey Miller. Miller was able to get her own rebound after she took a shot from between the faceoff circles. She then slid the puck under Klug to become the first player to find the back of the net in over four games against the Cobbers.

On the play, Concordia was whistled for a tripping penalty. Concordia wouldn't have an "end-of-the-streak" let down as they killed off the penalty and then went on the attack for the rest of the period.  

The Cobbers scored a pair of goals in the final three minutes of the second period to take a 3-1 lead into the third period. Tori Davis chipped in a shot from the top of the crease after a goal mouth scrum and then Nelson sniped home her second of the game at the 19:21 mark of the second frame.

Davis' goal came on the power play and was assisted by Ellen Rethwisch and Cassey Petrich.

The Sabres would get to within a goal at the 9:58 mark of the third period and then Nelson would put the game out of reach with her third goal of the night. Nelson got the puck between the circles after a pair of Cobber shots on goal and then rifled home the hat trick into the left side of the net.

Marian pulled its goalie with just under 2-minutes peft to play and the Cobbers finally finished off the scoring with a mere 7-seconds left on the clock. Kayla Nack tracked down the puck at the top of the left faceoff circle after a clearing attempt from the CC defense. She then slid the puck home before a sliding Sabre defender could make the save.

Concordia vs. Marian Highlights - Nov. 28, 2015

Morgan Bruns earned the assist on the play as she played the puck out of the Cobber zone.

Concordia outshot Marian 28-17 in the game. Nelson had a game-high seven shots on goal while senior Anna Westmark added five.

Klug stopped 15 shots to earn her fifth straight win in goal. She is now 5-1 on the year and is third in the MIAC in winning percentage.

The Cobbers went 1-for-5 on the power play while the Sabres were held scoreless in their two man-advantage opportunities.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The two teams will finish off the two-game non-conference series on Sunday, November 29 at 2 p.m. on the main ice rink at the Moorhead Sports Center.

102 STRAIGHT
Cobber goalie Andrea Klug stopped 102 consecutive shots in her shutout streak before allowing a goal on the 103rd shot she faced. She has now stopped 142 shots on the year which is third overall in the MIAC.

HAMBURGER HELPER
Senior Morgan Bruns has six points on the season and all six have been on assists. Bruns currently leads the MIAC in helpers and is in the top 25 of the nation in assists per game.

FULL NELSON
Jess Nelson now has four goals and three assists for seven points this season. She is second on the team in both goals scored and total points. Nelson's single-season career high point total is 11 which she posted last season.

ON A ROLL
Concordia has outscored its opponents 17-2 in the past five games. The Cobbers have also scored at least four goals in four games this year. CC scored four or more goals in four games in all of last season.