3-Goal Head Start Too Big To Overcome In Series Opener

ST. PAUL, Minn. (11/18/22)---Concordia gave up the first three goals in its series opener at St. Catherine and lost 4-2. The Cobbers were able to outscore the Wildcats 2-1 in the final 24-minutes of play, but the three consecutive goals by SCU to open the game proved to be the difference.

Another key to the series opener came on the power play where the Cobbers were 1-for-7, while St. Catherine was 1-for-2. CC is now 1-for-15 on the power play in the last two games.

Concordia (3-3-0, 0-3-0 MIAC) allowed the opening goal of the game at the 4:53 mark of the first period, and the teams would skate into the first break with the 1-0 score line.

St. Catherine (5-1-1, 1-1-1 MIAC) added a pair of goals 23-seconds apart in the second period. They scored on the power play at 15:25, and then came up with their third straight goal at the 15:48 mark.

The Cobbers stopped the SCU score streak when they got on the board less than 1-minute after going down 3-0. Freshman defenseman Kaylie Zimmerman stepped in front of a Wildcat pass just inside Concordia's blueline, and then pushed a pass into the neutral zone that set Jerica Friese and Josie Hell free on a 2-on-1 break. Friese skated the puck into the right faceoff circle and slid a pass over to Hell. Hell controlled the puck and cut towards the right side of goal. Her move caught the SCU off-balance and she was able to tap the puck into the net at 16:38.

The goal was Hell's first of the season, and sixth of her career. Friese earned her fourth assist on the play which gave her a team-leading eight points. The assist was Zimmerman's first collegiate point.

The Wildcats restored their 3-goal lead in the second minute of the final period, before Kaylie Klemetsrud finished off the scoring with a power play goal at 17:52.

Concordia was staked to its seventh power play of the game at 16:34, and head coach Maureen Greiner decided to pull goalie Becca Macklin to gain the 6-on-4 advantage.

The strategy paid off 78-seconds later when Kaylie Klemetsrud 1-timed a shot from inside the blue line that caught the upper left corner of the net. Senior captain McKenzie Oelkers started the scoring play when she made a pass to freshman defenseman Reghan Bork on the right point. Bork then set up Klemetsrud by throwing the puck across the ice.

The goal for Klemetsrud at 17:52 was her first of the season and second of her career.

The Cobbers pulled Macklin again in the final minute of play, but was able to get a sustained attack on the SCU goal.

Concordia was outshot 28-25 in the game. Macklin made 24 saves in her fifth straight start in goal for CC.

UP NEXT: The teams will finish off the series on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. at Drake Arena in St. Paul.