Same Score, Different Story In Series Finale

ST. PAUL, Minn. (11/19/22)---The score line was the same as the Cobbers' series opener at St. Catherine, but the plot line was different in the series finale on Saturday.

Concordia dropped its second straight 4-2 decision against the Wildcats, but this time it was the second half of the game that was the difference. On Friday, the Cobbers gave up three straight goals in the second and third periods and lost by two. On Saturday, Concordia was tied 2-2 but then allowed two unanswered goals and fell 4-2.

Another key to the game on Saturday was the first 3-minutes of each period. Concordia conceded the opening goal of the game at 1:07 of the first frame, allowed the game-winning goal at 2:38 of the middle period and then gave up an insurance goal at the 25-second mark of the final stanza.

St. Catherine (6-1-1, 2-1-1 MIAC) jumped to a 2-goal lead before the first period was halfway over. The Wildcats got an even-strength goal at 9:20 to grab a 2-0 lead to start the game.

Concordia (3-4-0, 0-4-0 MIAC) responded with a pair of Jerica Friese goals 2:54 apart in the final 5-minutes of the opening period.

Friese cut the lead to a single goal when she got CC on the board at 15:59. Paige Hanson earned the assist on Friese's fifth of the year.

Friese would make it a team-leading sixth strike of the season when she scored on the power play at 18:53. CC was staked to a player advantage at 17:19 when the Wildcats were whistled for a tripping call. After a pair of faceoffs in the SCU end, Friese finished off a play from McKenzie Oelkers and Abbey Hardwick.

Friese now has six goals and four assists for a team-leading 10 points. Her six goals are tied for third in the MIAC as are her 10 overall points.

Concordia outshot St. Catherine in the first and third periods, but was outshot 32-26 in the game. Friese led all players with nine shots on goal. Hardwick added three shots.

The Cobbers were 1-for-5 on the power play, while the Wildcats were held scoreless in their one opportunity.

Junior goalie Becca Macklin made 28 saves in goal for CC.      
 
UP NEXT: The Cobbers will have a break for the Thanksgiving holiday, and then return to action on Dec. 2-3 when they play at Hamline in a 2-game series.