3 Questions, 3 Replies in Shootout Win

MENOMONIE, Wis. (11/18/23)---Concordia had all the answers in its 3-3 overtime shootout win with St. Catherine in the series finale.

The Cobbers trailed by a single goal on three different occasions but were able to come up with the equalizer each time and finally claimed an extra point in the MIAC standings for the shootout win.

The game will go down as a tie on Concordia's schedule, but they earn their first two conference points of the year. CC is now 1-3-1 in all games and 0-3-1 in league play.

St. Catherine (3-4-1, 1-2-1 MIAC) built up leads of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 and Concordia was able to come up with the "next" goal to tie the game.

The Wildcats continued their weekend-long trend of scoring early-period goals. On Friday, they scored their three goals in the first 5 minutes of each period. On Saturday, they scored a single goal in each period, and all three came in the first 7 minutes of play.

First-year forward Abbey Reule stepped into the spotlight in the series finale. She scored the first two goals of her college career to produce to the first two tie score lines. Reule got CC on the board when she slammed home a rebound at 16:41 of the first frame. Abbey Hardwick and McKenzie Oelkers were credited with the assists for CC's opener.    

A second rebound would give Reule her second goal and tie the game at 2-2 in the second period. She chipped in a rebound as she fell to the ice at 12:57. Hardwick recorded her second assist, and Grace Doerring was given the other helper.

The final equalizer would come in the last 5 minutes of regulation – and would also come off of a rebound. The Cobbers won a draw to the right side of the SCU goal. Taylyn Cope tracked the puck down and threw It on the net from the red line. The puck bounced off the Wildcat's goalie and found the stick of Morgan Sauvageau, who was standing alone at the top of the crease. Sauvageau 1-timed the puck into the net to tie the game at 3-3 at 15:25. The goal was the first of the year for Sauvageau, who was second on the team in goals scored last year.

Concordia controlled the 5-minute overtime period but couldn't get the game winner. CC outshot the Wildcats 8-1 for the OT session.

The Cobbers gained the extra point for the shootout win behind the play of first-year goalie Kate Stephens and the puck skills of senior Jerica Friese. Stephens stopped all three St. Catherine shootout attempts, and Friese scored the only goal on the first attempt for CC.

Concordia once again held a decided edge in shots on goal. The Cobbers outshot SCU 32-18 in the game and 63-36 for the series.

Stephens made 15 saves in goal for the Cobbers and is now 1-1-1 for the season.

UP NEXT: Concordia will step out of conference play and face Northland in a 2-game series on Nov. 21-22 in Ashland, Wis.     

CONCORDIA vs. ST. CATHERINE HIGHLIGHTS