Another Five-Game January Unbeaten Streak

ST. PAUL, Minn. (1/30/15)—Concordia never trailed against Hamline in the series opener as they scored a single goal in each period to beat the Pipers 3-1 and extend their unbeaten streak to five games.

The five-game unbeaten streak is the longest of the season for Concordia and pushed their overall record to 6-10-2. The Cobbers are 5-4-2 in conference play and now in fourth place in the league standings.  The five-game unbeaten string is also the fourth time in the past six years that CC has fashioned a five-game unbeaten streak in the month of January.

Concordia held the momentum in the game for all three periods, outshooting the Pipers 32-15. The Cobbers had a 13-3 edge in the first period alone but only came away with a single even-strength goal after 20 minutes of play. CC sophomore Jessica Kongelf staked the Cobbers to a one-goal lead when she scored her second goal of the season at the 9:37 mark. Jess Nelson and Ellen Rethwisch were credited with the assists on the play.

Hamline tied the game against the run of play in the eighth minute of play in the second period. The Pipers dominated the early part of the period, matching their entire first-period shot total in the opening two minutes of the middle frame. Their game-tying goal came just after a Cobber power play expired. CC couldn't clear the zone and Hamline converted on the ensuing zone time.

Concordia earned the game-winning goal on their second power play opportunity of the game. Senior Kelsey Vandegrift knocked home a rebound to give Concordia a 2-1 lead at 18:52. Senior captains Libby Fransdal and Maddy Gendreau had the assists on the Cobbers' fifth power play goal in the last five games.

The Cobber defense regained control in the third period. CC held Hamline to only three shots on goal for the final 20 minutes of play. Two of the three shots in the period came in the final 1:20 of play.

Concordia capped off the scoring in the game with an empty-net goal with 1:01 remaining in the final frame. Hamline pulled its goalie at the 18:32 mark and proceeded to get one of their three shots on goal in the period in the next few seconds. Sophomore Amber Schaack added to her team-leading goal total when she found the empty net. Schaack netted her seventh goal of the year on an assist from Kongelf. Schaack has a single goal in four of the team's last seven games and has already surpassed her goal total from last season (5). Schaack is now tied for fifth in the MIAC in goals scored this season.

Junior goalie Madison Denny stopped 14 of the 15 shots she faced to pick up her third win of the season. She has earned wins in two of her last three starts and has stopped 54 of the 59 shots she has faced in that stretch of games.

Concordia will look to extend its January unbeaten streak when they finish off the series with the Pipers on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. at Oscar Johnson Arena.