As Tight As It Can Get In Opener At St. Mary's

WINONA, Minn. (12/05/25)---The series opener between Concordia and St. Mary's was about as close as a game could be. The score was tried after the first period and then again after the second period and both teams finished with 25 shots on goal.

The only difference came midway through the third period when the Cardinals were able to score the game-winning goal and come away with a 4-3 victory.

The teams traded single goals in the first frame with SMU scoring the opener and first-year forward Addie Moos tying the game with her third gal of the season only 38 seconds later.

St. Mary's (3-5-0, 2-3-0 MIAC) scored two goals midway through the second period to grab a 2-goal lead but two goals by Taylyn Cope in a span of 2:57 tied the game at 3-3 and sent the teams into the second intermission all square.

Anna Nelson and  Allie Emineth had the helpers on Cope's first goal of the period and Jaclyn Lloyd and Morgan Sauvageau set up Cope's third goal of the season to tie the game with 3:28 left in the period.

The teams combined for nine shots on goal to start the final frame before St. Mary's was able to net the winner after keeping the puck in the CC end and then scoring on a wrist shot  from the top of the left faceoff circle.

Concordia (1-6-0, 1-4-0 MIAC) had six shots on goal in the final 5:00 of play and pulled goalie Abby Huselid with 1:22 left in the period but could never come up with the equalizer.

All seven goals in the game came with the teams playing at even strength. The Cobbers were 0-for-1 on the power play, while the Cardinals were 0-for-2. SMU had a slim 30-27 edge in faceoffs won for the game.     

Cope led all players with eight shots on goal. Moos and Sauvageau had four each as the three players combined for 16 of the team's 25 shots on target.

Huselid made 21 saves in goal for the Cobbers.

Concordia will finish off their series with St. Mary's in Winona on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 3 p.m.