Senior Perseverance Pays Off

MOORHEAD, Minn. (3/12/21)---It was a fitting ending for Concordia's Senior Celebration Night. The Cobbers scored three unanswered goals in the third period to rally and beat Augsburg 4-2. Like the eight Cobber seniors who have persevered through a tough season, CC kept grinding through the first two periods and found a way to win in the third.

Concordia showed signs of having not played a game in 16 days in the first two periods. The Cobbers were doubled up in shots in the first 40 minutes of play with the Auggies holding the majority of the offensive zone time.

Augsburg got on the board first with a goal in the eighth minute of opening period. The Cobbers had to kill off a penalty immediately following the goal because of a hooking call on the scoring play. The penalty kill was one of the keys to the game as Concordia held the Auggies off the board and then were staked to their own power play chance when Augsburg was whistled for a high sticking call at 14:24.

It took CC only 23-seconds into the player-advantage situation to tie the game. Senior Kaitlyn Page found herself open at the side of the net and was able to jam home the puck as it found its way between player camped in front of the net. Page's second goal of the year was assisted by fellow senior Callie Fagerstrom.

Augsburg would score the only goal of the second period to set the stage for Concordia's 3-goal binge in the third.

The rally started early in the final 20 minutes of play. Freshman Jerica Friese found herself alone at the top of the crease and was fed the puck from the point from Fagerstrom. She deftly controlled the puck going to her left, stopped pulled the back to the right to avoid an oncoming defender and then slid the puck past the goalie who bit on the fake to the left.     

The goal was Friese's second of the year and second in as many games.

The game-winning goal came off the stick of another senior. Maiah McCowan went top shelf from the left edge at the top of the crease to give their first lead of the game at 3-2 at the 9:50 mark of the final frame. Libby Hinrichs fed McCowan the puck from behind the net and McCowan was able to go over the glove hand of the Auggie goalie.      

Augsburg gave the Cobbers a scare late in the period when they found a way past CC goalie Kiana Flaig but the puck never crossed the line and the referee standing behind the goal made the call to keep Concordia in the lead.

Hinrichs would finish off the scoring when she netted an empty-net goal in the final minute of play. Augsburg pulled their goalie with 1:42 left to play in the game and held the puck in the CC end until just under a minute to play. Concordia was able to force a turnover just outside the Auggie blueline and Hinrichs took advantage by sliding a 70-foot shot into the unprotected goal.

Augsburg outshot Concordia 32-16 in the game. Friese and the Cobber defense around the net kept any quality chances from happening for most of the game. Friese came through with big saves in each period and finished with 30 stops on the night. It was first 30-or-more save game of the season.

Concordia had the only power play goal of the game. CC was 1-for-3 with the extra skater while Augsburg went 0-for-3.

UP NEXT: The same two teams will finish off the 2021 season when they play at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 13 at the Moorhead Sports Center.

RECAP SPONSOR: Tonight's game recap is sponsored by 702 Communications. Just like the Cobber offense came through in the clutch in the third period, so does 702 Communications when it comes to your internet and online communication service.