Bid For Second Straight Comeback Falls Short

MOORHEAD, Minn. (12/11/21)---Concordia's bid for a second straight 2-goal comeback against No.2-ranked Wis.-Eau Claire fell just short as the Cobbers dropped a 4-1 decision against the Blugolds.

On Friday, the Cobbers trailed 2-0 with 21-minutes left in regulation, and staged a third-period rally to overtake Eau Claire in overtime. On Saturday, Concordia was behind by a similar 2-0 score line with 20 minutes to play, but couldn't produce a second goal to tie the game and lost.

Eau Claire (12-1-0) scored a pair of goals in the first period to take a 2-0 lead. Neither team produced any offensive threats in the middle frame and the score remained at 2-0 heading into the final period of play.

Concordia's (6-5-0) best chance of the first 40 minutes came with 5:30 remaining in the first period when freshman Abbey Hardwick was tripped from behind on a breakaway. The Cobbers were awarded a penalty shot, but Hardwick's try slid just wide of the post after she had beaten the goalie to her backhand side.

The Cobbers started their comeback trek in the fifth minute of the third period. Senior Jordie Egerdahl won the draw after a faceoff to the right of the Eau Claire goal. Hardwick pushed the puck to a wide open Brooke McMillen who was standing on top of the right side of the crease. McMillen reached back to control the puck and then snapped off a laser into the top left corner of the net.

The goal at the 4:08 mark was McMillen's third of the year.

On Friday, the Cobbers were able to come up with the next goal to tie the game. Unfortunately, on Saturday that goal never came, and the Blugolds were able to retake a 2-goal lead at 9:10.

Eau Claire added an empty-net goal with 27-seconds left in the third period to bring the final total to 4-1.

Concordia was outshot 35-25 in the game. CC played even with the Blugolds in the shot department for the final two periods, with UWEC holding a slim 22-21 edge.

McMillen led Concordia with five shots on goal, while Hardwick and Hannah Christian had four shots each.

Sophomore Becca Macklin made her third start in goal for the Cobbers and made a career-high 31 saves.

UP NEXT: Concordia will have almost a full month break before returning to action on Jan. 7 when they play at No.5-ranked Wis.-River Falls on Friday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m.