A Perfect Season Opening

BLAINE, Minn. (10/30/11)—Concordia capped a perfect MIAC Showcase weekend by beating St. John's 2-1 on Sunday in Blaine. The Cobbers beat Gustavus 3-2 on Saturday and were one of only two teams in the conference to finish the weekend at 2-0.

It marks the first time since the MIAC started hosting the showcase in 2009 that the Cobbers did not lose a game. They have improved each year they have participated in the event. In 2009 they lost both games and then last year they split their two season-opening contests.

It also marks the first time since the 2006-07 season they have opened the season with two straight wins. The Cobbers got off to a 3-0 start that year before losing the next four games.

Both wins for the Cobbers featured stellar goaltending, solid special teams play and timely goal scoring. On Sunday, Concordia scored a pair of goals in the second period to break open a scoreless tie and then sophomore goaltender Chris Neamonitis shut the door on the St. John's offense to give CC the 2-1 win.

It took Concordia a full period to get into the game but Neamonitis stoned the Johnnies for the full 20 minutes and allowed the Cobbers to get to the first intermission tied at 0-0. Neamonitis stopped all 16 shots he faced in the period as SJU outshot Concordia 16-4. The Cobbers turned things around in the middle frame and scored both goals in the first 13:00. Aaron Wheeler kept his red-hot season start going by scoring at 5:46. It was his second goal in as many games and gave CC a 1-0 lead. Nick Thielen recorded his second assist of the year and Ben Payne picked up the other helper on the play. The Concordia power play unit then scored the eventual game-winning goal less than 8:00 later. Sophomore Braden Rahman scored his first goal of the year as he finished off a passing play from Wheeler and Caleb Suderman. For Wheeler it was his team-leading third point of the weekend while Suderman grabbed his second assist of the year.

The experienced Cobber defense and Neamonitis made the two-goal lead stand up despite giving up a goal to the Johnnies in the second minute of play in the third period.

Neamonitis stopped 34 of the 35 shots he faced as St. John's outshot the Cobbers 35-27. The Cobber penalty kill unit held the Johnnies scoreless in their four power play attempts while CC was 1-for-3 on the man advantage.

On Saturday the Cobbers survived a pair of bookend 5-on-3 situations and edged Gustavus 3-2. The Cobbers had to kill off their first 5-on-3 of the season just 8:00 into the opening period. CC wound up giving up a goal on the power play but then held the Gusties off the board until the final minute of the third period.

Once again the second period was the determining factor in the game. Sophomore forward John Orrico scored the first goal of the year for Concordia when he tied the game at 1-1 at the 4:34 mark. Wheeler then gave CC the lead when he scored on the power play. Thielen and All-American defenseman Erick Galt were credited with the assists on the play.
The Cobbers held the 2-1 lead into the third period and then Payne then came up with the goal of the tournament. He took the puck in his own, raced the length of the ice, went around the back of the goal and then slammed home the wrap around attempt. The eventual game-winning goal came at the 3:15 mark.

Concordia conceded a goal in the final minute of play on another 5-on-3 situation after Gustavus had pulled their goalie in favor of an extra attacker.

The Gusties held a 37-24 advantage in shots on goal but couldn't crack the stellar goaltending of sophomore Kelly Andrew. Andrew turned aside 35 shots and earned his 12^th career win.

Concordia was 1-for-5 on the power play while the Gusties converted on two of their eight power play chances.

The Cobbers will stay on the road to play a pair of non-conference games next weekend. CC will play in Wisconsin on Friday, Nov. 4 when the square off against UW-Stout in Menomonie at 7p.m. Concordia will then return to Minnesota to play at St. Thomas in a non-conference battle on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m.  That game will be a rematch of the MIAC playoff semifinal last year where the Cobbers prevailed 4-2.