Cobbers Can't Hold Fast Start In Finale With #2 Falcons

MOORHEAD, Minn. (1/07/23)—Concordia scored two goals in the first period of its series finale with No.2-ranked Wis.-River Falls, but couldn't continue that momentum through the last two periods and lost 9-2.

Lexi Woodward's goal at 16:19 of the first period brought the Cobbers within a goal at 3-2, but then the Falcons scored six unanswered goals to gain the sweep in the series.

The game started with a flurry of goals. The teams combined for three goals in the first six minutes of play.

River Falls (11-2-0) opened the scoring at the 1:11 mark, before freshman Morgan Sauvageau countered with her team-leading seventh goal of the season just 49-seconds later. Jayda Krikorian earned the assist on the game-tying goal at 2:00.

The Falcons responded with two straight goals to take a 3-1 lead. They netted the go-ahead goal at 6:07 and then put home a power play strike at 12:31.

Concordia (3-10-0) got to within one heading into the first intermission when Woodward was able to 1-time a shot from the top of the slot at the 16:19 mark. The play was set up by Sophie Verkerke who dug the puck out from behind the net, and then Keely Olness who played a perfect backhand pass to the waiting Woodward.

That would be all the highlights for the Cobbers in the game as the Falcons scored 40-seconds into the second period and tacked on five more before the period had come to an end.

Concordia was outshot 68-11 for the game. CC was 0-for-2 on the power play, while River Falls finished with two PP goals in their three chances.

Freshman goalie Hailee Bailey got her first collegiate start and was solid in the net during her stint of 32:35. She made several big stops and finished with 27 saves in the game.

Kiana Flaig finished the final 27:25 of the game and stopped 32 shots.

UP NEXT: Concordia will return to MIAC play when they host St. Scholastica in a 2-game series on Jan. 13-14 at the Moorhead Sports Center.