Two Unanswered In Third Period Sends Cobbers To A Loss Against #6 Gustavus

MOORHEAD, Minn. (01/21/22)---Concordia battled No.6-ranked Gustavus through two periods of play, but then gave up a pair of unanswered goals in the final 20 minutes and lost 3-1 in the series opener.

The Cobbers scored the first goal of the game and held a 1-0 lead through the first intermission. The Gusties then picked up the equalizer in the second frame and the deciders in the third to earn the 2-goal victory.

The game was the fifth straight against national Top 10 opponents for Concordia. CC is now 6-8-0 overall and 2-5-0 in league play. The Gusties win for the fourth straight game and improve to 11-2-0 in all games, and remain unbeaten in MIAC play at 7-0-0.

Concordia held the better of the offensive zone time in the first 20 minutes of play. CC was able to keep the puck in the Gustavus, but came up with few shots on goal.

The Cobber pressure was rewarded midway through the opening period when sophomore Jerica Friese knocked home a loose puck from right next to the right post. Jordie Egerdahl won the puck behind the GAC net and played it to the side of the goal where Friese was able to knock it past the Gustie goalie.

The goal was Friese's team-leading ninth of the year and third in the last three games. She now has six goals in the Cobbers' last five games. Egerdahl collected her team-leading eighth helper on the play. She has an assist in four straight games and five of the past seven.

Concordia took the 1-0 advantage into the break and looked to lengthen the lead when they were staked to their first power play of the game at the 8:25 mark of the second frame.

However, what could have been a turning point in the game for CC, turned into the swing point for Gustavus. Gustie forward Tina Press stole the puck in the neutral zone and was able to turn the corner on the Cobber defense at the faceoff circles. She then cut to the right and slide the puck past Cobber netminder Kiana Flaig on the backhand.

Flaig kept the Cobbers within one goal by making save after save through the first 40 minutes of play. The teams were tied at 1-1 after two periods of play.

Gustavus netted the game-winning goal at 6:26 of the third period, and then added the insurance marker on the power play at 9:31.

Flaig was on form all game, and showed why she is one of the top goalies in the MIAC. She turned aside a season-high 39 shots in the game. That total pushes her into the lead in the conference in saves. Flaig has stopped 286 shots this year.

UP NEXT: Concordia will look for a split in the series when they host Gustavus on Saturday, Jan. 22 at 2 p.m. at the Moorhead Sports Center.  

CONCORDIA vs. GUSTAVUS HIGHLIGHTS
 


KIANA FLAIG HIGHLIGHTS vs. GUSTAVUS