The Return of Cobber Hockey

MOORHEAD, Minn. (1/15/16)— After surrendering 10 goals in their final non-conference goallast weekend, Concordia returned to Cobber hockey and bested Hamline 4-1 in their first MIACgame of 2016.

"We got back to what we do to be successful," commented head coach Jason Gregoire. "We gotback to moving our feet to win puck battles and the jump in our step was a lot better."

Concordia's "jump" provided a power play goal in the first period and then single even-strengthgoals in the second and third before an empty-net tally finished off the scoring late in regulation.

The Cobbers struggled through the first five minutes and looked like they were stuck in a time warp back to their second game with nationally-ranked Wis.-River Falls. The Pipers held the betterof the offensive zone time and put up several early shots on goal.

The game changed when the Cobbers went on the power play – a theme that would be repeated all game long. Concordia opened the scoring when senior defenseman Cassey Petrich powered home a wrist shot from just inside the blue line between the face-off circles that caught the topright corner of the net. Petrich's third goal of the year was assisted by Jess Nelson.

One of the biggest plays of the game came moments later when a Hamline attacker broke free from the middle of the ice and went untouched on a breakaway towards the Cobber goal. The Piper offensive player tried to go left and slide a backhand past CC goalie Andrea Klug but Klug used her quick foot skills to slide over and stop the goal-scoring attempt.

Instead of the game being tied at 1-1, Concordia heled their one-goal advantage and everyone inthe building knew that the top goalie in the MIAC was back on her game.

The Cobbers would add a second goal just after the start of the second period. CC won possession of the puck, dumped it in the Piper end and then made a centering pass which was tapped in on the back side of the net by senior Anna Westmark. It would be the first of two goals in the game for Westmark. Tori Davis and Ellen Rethwisch earned the assists on the goal at the 10-second mark.

Neither team would score for the remainder of the middle frame. Concordia squandered four powerplay chances in the period and wound up 1-for-8 on man-advantage situations in the game.

The game almost turned in Hamline's favor midway through the third period when CC was whistled for two straight penalties. The Pipers were awarded a 5-on-3 power play for 1:40 and proceeded toget within a goal at 2-1 when they scored at 9:06.

The Cobbers would kill off the remainder of the two-man advantage without further harm and thensenior Abby Kratzke chipped in a goal from the slot to retake a two-goal lead. Kratzke'ssecond goal of the season came at 11:06 and finished off a Concordia charge at the Hamline goal. Chelsey Petrich and Davis were credited with the assists.

Westmark would finish off the scoring when she netted her second goal of the game. She pounded home the puck from just outside the crease after Hamline had pulled goalie Jessica Cole with 2:29left to play in regulation.   

Despite the 4-1 advantage on the scoreboard, Concordia was outshot 34-27 in a game thatfeatured 61 combined shots. Rethwisch and Westmark each had season highs in shots on goal with seven.

Concordia vs. Hamline Highlights - Jan. 15, 2016

THE WALL RETURNS

After allowing four goals in a single period last Saturday, junior Andrea Klug returned to her old ways by stopping 33 of the 34 shots she faced. It marks the third time this season she has made at least 30 saves in a game and earned a win. Klug has also allowed less than two goals on eight times this season.

Klug lowered her goals against average to 1.42 in all games. Unbelievably her conference GAA went up. She currently leads the MIAC in goals against average and save percentage in conference games. Klug has a 0.57 GAA and a 97.8% save percentage in her seven league games.

DEFENSE SCHMEEFENSE
Under the tutelage of former NHL offensive-minded defenseman Brian Lee, the Cobber blue liners have found their scoring touch in 2015-16. Concordia has two of the top three scoring defensemen in the league and all four of their top "D" have at least two points. Cassey Petrich and Morgan Bruns are currently tied for third in the MIAC in scoring by a defenseman.  

WHAT'S NEXT
Concordia will go for the series sweep when the two teams face off in the series finale on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Moorhead Sports Center. The Cobbers are 3-3 in the second game of a series this season.