A Flood Of Firsts In The Season Opener

MOORHEAD, Minn. (10/28/23)---It was a flood of firsts for Concordia and Dubuque in the season opener on Saturday.

Concordia gave up the first goal of the game to first-year program Dubuque but then rattled off six straight scores to post a 6-1 in the season opener.

It took the Cobbers a full 28 minutes to get going in the new season. Dubuque, who is in their first year as an NCAA program, scored their very first goal in school history at 3:34 of the second period after the teams battled through a scoreless first frame.

The Spartans' lead would last for just over 5 minutes before senior Jerica Friese tied the game with a shorthanded goal at 8:38. First-year player Reagan Wohlers would give Concordia the lead head into the third period when she scored her first college goal at the 18:07 mark.

The third period was all Cobbers as the 14-player Dubuque team started to run out of gas. Junior Abbey Hardwick opened the 4-goal third frame in the second minute of play, and first-year forward Taylyn Cope capped off the score line at the 15:57 mark. Between those two goals, Sandra Sampson and Jade Ford found the back of the net to give CC a commanding lead.

The goal for first-year player Sampson was also her first collegiate strike.

First-year goalie Kate Stephens got the start between the pipes and made five saves to record her first collegiate win.       
  
Concordia outshot Dubuque 27-6 in the game.

UP NEXT: The Cobbers will open MIAC play at St. Benedict on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m.