Perseverance Pays Off In Series Sweep

MOORHEAD, Minn. (1/16/16)--- A trio of third-period goals helped Concordia overcome deficits of 1-0 and 2-1 and earn a series sweep of Hamline with a 3-2 victory.

The Cobbers' seventh conference win in eight games was powered by perseverance and a coaching adjustment between the first and second periods.

Concordia kept pounding away at the Hamline net until they were finally were rewarded with three goals in their final 14 shots of the game. The Cobbers put up 39 shots in the game but couldn't get on the board until the fifth minute of the final frame.

"Our perseverance going to goal was key today," said head coach Jason Gregoire. "We just kept attacking and finally the puck started to find its way into the net."

The third-period rally helped the Cobbers earn their ninth overall victory of the year. CC is 9-5-2 in all games and 7-1-0 in the MIAC. CC stands alone atop the conference standings with 14 points – three clear of second-place teams Augsburg and St. Thomas.

While persistence in the offensive end paid off in the third period it was a coaching adjustment after the first period that made a big difference.

"We were having trouble getting the puck out of our own end so we changed up how we broke the puck out," said Gregoire.

The move paid off as CC's ability to get out of the defensive end limited Hamline's chances and gave the Cobbers more time to attack in open ice.  Concordia's shot total grew throughout the game and culminated in the 17-shot third period.

Sophomore Tori Davis was the offensive star for Concordia on Saturday. She was in the right place and the right time on two occasions and scored the game-tying goal at 13:07 of the third and then the game winner just 1:07 later.

Hamline (6-7-2/3-3-1 MIAC) got on the board in the third minute of the first period and held control of the first 20 minutes of the game.

Concordia then outshot the Pipers 12-7 in the second period but neither team could get a goal and the game remained at 1-0 in favor of HU.

The contest started to get interesting in the fifth minute of the final period. Amber Schaack tied the score at 1-1 when she knocked home a one-timer from the slot after a tremendous three-quarter length rush from Jess Nelson. Nelson fired an initial shot but it went wide right. She then collected the rebound behind the net and centered it to Schaack who drew the Cobbers level at the 4:18 mark.

Hamline reclaimed the lead less than a minute later. The Pipers went up 2-1 at 5:03 before the home crowd could stop celebrating the game-tying goal.

Concordia continued to press the Hamline end and wasn't able to get another shot past Hamline netminder Jessica Cole.

Concordia Highlights vs. Hamline - Jan. 16, 2016

The Cobbers, and Davis, won the game in a span of 1:09 in the second half of the third period. Davis tied the game at 2-2 when she redirected a centering pass from Ellen Rethwisch. Davis was camped on the doorstep and just let the puck go off her stick after Rethwisch made a centering pass from the left face-off circle. Davis' redirect slid neatly between the pads of Cole at the 13:07 mark. Defenseman Hannah Johnston, who passed the puck to Rethwisch, was also credited with an assist on the play.      

The game winner came at 14:16 and was set up by a terrific back-checking play from senior captain Anna Westmark. Westmark hustled to catch up to a Hamline attacker before she could clear the Piper end. Westmark knocked the puck off the stick o the HU player and it went right to Davis in the left face-off circle. Davis then opened up to the goal and unleashed a wrist shot that beat Cole to the short side.

There was a bit of late-game drama as Hamline was whistled for a hooking call with 2:42 left to play in regulation. Both teams wound up taking timeouts during the next minute and then the Pipers pulled Cole with 1:42 left in the period.

Concordia was unable to score on the 5-on-5 situation as Hamline killed off the penalty. The Pipers then held the puck in the Cobber zone for the final 42 seconds of the period but were unable to get the puck past CC goalie Andrea Klug.

Klug wound up making 20 saves in the game as Concordia outshot the Pipers 39-22.  

TORRID TORI
Tori Davis has now scored six goals in the past seven games. She has eight nuggets for the year and leads the team in goals scored.

"Tori has a knack for getting in the right spots around the goal," commented Gregoire. "Not only can she get open in front of goal but can also score when she gets the opportunity."

Davis' eight goals is tied for third most in the MIAC this season. She had five goals and seven total points in all of last season.

AMBER ALERT
Amber Schaack returned to her shot-taking ways on Saturday. The junior forward had a career-high 10 shots on goal and was dangerous around the goal. She opened the scoring with her fifth goal of the year. Schaack leads the conference in shots on goal with 68. That total is one more than she had in all of last season.            

WHAT'S NEXT
Concordia hit the road for the first time in 2016 next weekend. The Cobbers will have a key MIAC showdown with one of the teams tied for second place in the standings. CC will play at Augsburg on Friday and Saturday at the Ed Saugestad Rink on the campus of Augsburg. The Auggies split their series with Bethel on Friday and Saturday and are 5-3-1 at home this year.