Like A Boss

ASHLAND, Wis. (12/13/16)—The number on the jersey in goal for Concordia changed but the outcome didn't. Sophomore goalie Brittany Boss got her first start of the season and stopped all 21 shots she faced to help Concordia beat Northland 2-0 in the final game before the Christmas break.

The shutout was the third straight for the Cobbers who have now won five of their last six games and head into the New Year with an 8-2-1 record.

Concordia almost fell into another Wisconsin hot goalie trap. The Cobbers put up 44 shots on goal, ran into a netminder having another career game and could only score twice. The game was reminiscent of their last loss when they put up over 40 shots on goal and lost 1-0 in Fon du Lac, Wis.

The teams were tied 0-0 after the first 20 minutes of play despite Concordia outshooting the Lumberjills 13-4. CC spent most of the first period in the Northland zone and couldn't convert on their only power play attempt of the frame.

The game stayed knotted at 0-0 until late in the second period when the Cobbers were sent to the power play after a hooking call on the Lumberjills. The nation's No.1 power play unit made sure the score wouldn't be tied after the next two minutes of play.

Freshman Amanda Flemming netted her fourth goal of the year at the 15:02 mark with an assist from senior defenseman Morgan Bruns.

Concordia continued to press the Northland goal but could only manage the one goal. CC had 28 shots in the first two periods but clung to a 1-0 lead heading into the third frame.

Senior Amber Schaack gave the Cobbers a little breathing room when she added the second goal of the game midway through the third. Ellen Rethwisch set up Schaack's fourth goal of the year which came at 10:11.

Boss would make sure that Northland wouldn't be able to get close in the final minutes of play. While she wasn't faced with a quantity of shots she was steady throughout the 60 minutes of play and even turned aside a breakaway attempt in the second period with CC protecting a 1-0 lead.

Concordia outshot Northland 44-21 with 14 of the Lumberjill's shots coming in the second period. Flemming led all players with six shots on goal. She was one of six CC players with at least four shots. Rethwisch, Schaack, Jessica Kongelf and Abbie Canton all had five shots on target while Maddie Ellingson added four.     

EIGHT IS ENOUGH: The eight wins by the Cobbers sets a new program record for most wins before the Christmas break. Concordia had seven wins before the New Year in 2015-16 and 2011-12. The eight wins are also tied for the most by a MIAC team this season. CC and Augsburg both have eight overall wins and are tied atop the conference standings with 5-1-0 marks.

HEADING TO THE POLLS: While most people are concerned with things going on at the North Pole at this time of year, Concordia is happy to be hanging out in the national poll scene. For the first time all year the Cobbers are receiving votes in both major Division III polls. CC received three votes in the latest USCHO.com national rankings and also had three votes in the D3hockey.com poll. Both vote totals put them in the Top 15 of the country.
    
A DEFINITE ADVANTAGE: Concordia continued its success on the power play on Tuesday as they went 1-for-3 with the extra skater to raise their season success rate to 31.9%. That mark is tops in all of college women's hockey. The Cobbers have scored 15 power play goals this year which is two more than they did in all of last season.

LEAGUE LEADERS: The Cobbers' two goals against Northland add to their league-leading total of 37. CC also leads the league in shots on goal (400) and is second in goals against (21). Senior Amber Schaack is the individual leader in shots with 62.

WHAT'S NEXT:  Concordia will have a three-week break before embarking on a four-game road trip to start the New Year. The Cobbers will face No.3-ranked Wis.-River Falls on Jan. 6-7 in River Falls and then restart MIAC play with a two-game series at Hamline on Jan. 13-14. The Falcons are currently 10-1-0 and coming off a sweep of MIAC foe Gustavus while the Pipers are 6-4-0 overall and 4-1-0 in the MIAC and tied for third place in the conference standings.