Cobbers 3 Straight In Third And Fall In Series Opener At St. Scholastica

DULUTH, Minn. (01/28, 22)---Despite putting up 44 shots on goal, Concordia conceded three consecutive goals in the first 12 minutes of the third period and lost 4-2 at St. Scholastica.

The Cobbers entered the final frame deadlocked at 1-1 with the Saints, but then St. Scholastica broke the game open with a goal in the first minute of period, one more at the midway point and finally a third straight tally at the 11:49 mark.

The loss is the sixth straight for Concordia. The Cobbers are now 6-10-0 in all games and 2-7-0 in the MIAC. St. Scholastica wins for the second time in the last three games and moves to 8-6-1 overall and 5-2-1 in league contests.

The Saints took a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute of the first period when they scored an even-strength goal at 8:14. The goal came against the run of play after the Cobbers fired eight straight shots on goals, including five that came on the power play.

The lead wouldn't last long as senior Libby Hinrichs scored her second goal of the year just 75-seconds later. Jerica Friese and Paige Hanson set up the goal at 9:49.

The teams would skate through the final 10 minutes of the first stanza and all of the second period without scoring another goal. During that stretch, the Cobbers outshot the Saints 17-9.

The game changed at the 45-second mark of the third period when St. Scholastica went up 2-1 on an even-strength marker. They would add a power play goal at 9:40 and then a second insurance goal at 11:49.

Freise would bring the final score line to 4-2 as she scored her team-leading 11th goal of the season at 12:14. Abbey Hardwick and Brenna Mjoness picked up the assists on the goal.

Concordia finished the game with a 44-25 advantage in shots on goal. Friese led all players with seven shots. Hardwick had six and both Jordie Egerdahl and Brooke McMillen put up five shots on target.

Junior goalie Kiana Flaig made 21 saves in 57:09 of action. The Cobbers pulled Flaig with 2:51 left in the third period, but were unable to come up with a goal.

UP NEXT: Concordia will try for the split in series when the two teams square off on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 4 p.m.