Jaw-Dropping Start Gets Overshadowed By Strong Finish

ST. PETER, Minn. (11/22/24)---Concordia played one of its best periods in program history against No.2-ranked Gustavus but it wasn't enough as the Cobbers gave up four unanswered goals and lost 5-4.

 

The Cobbers dropped everyone's jaw inside the Don Roberts Ice Arena when they scored three goals in the first 18 minutes of the game. 

 

Morgan Sauvageau staked Concordia to a 2-0 lead when she scored two goals in a span of 8:09. It was her second straight game where she scored twice.

 

The opening goal came at 1:18 when the Cobbers threw the puck out of the defensive end and Sauvageau was able to beat the defense to the puck and went top shelf on the breakaway. 

 

The second goal at 9:27 was in a similar fashion as she broke free of the defense in the neutral zone, beat the last defender to the faceoff circle and snapped home a shot that settled into the top part of the net. 

 

Junior Memphis Mertens picked up the assist on Sauvageau's team-leading fourth goal of the year. The assist for Mertens was her second of the year. 

 

First-year forward Madilyn Skogman staked Concordia to a 3-goal lead when she slammed home a rebound on the power play at the 17:04 mark. It was her first collegiate nugget. Sophie Hauer and Taylyn Cope were credited with the assists on the play. 

 

Gustavus (3-1-0, 3-0-0 MIAC) struck early in the second as they tried to gain back the momentum in the game. They netted their opener at 2:12 but the energy would be short-lived.

 

The Cobbers wasted little time in responding to the goal that cut the lead to 3-1. Cope netted her first goal of the season only 29 seconds later on a rebound after a solid offensive zone play from Taylor Severson. Severson hustled to pick off an errant pass on the Gustie breakout. She was able to get off a shot from the left faceoff circle. The rebound caromed to the right side of the goal where Cope reached the puck with one hand on her stick and swept the puck into the net. 

 

Concordia would keep the 3-goal lead until the 7:55 mark when Gustavus started their 4-goal streak. The Gusties scored a pair of power play goals and added the third only 42 seconds after they cut the lead to 4-3 at 14:55. 

 

The game-winning goal came in the second minute of the third period when they were able to take advantage of a 3-on-2 situation.

 

Concordia finished the game 1-for-3 on the power play while the Gusties were 2-for-7. 

 

The Cobbers were outshot 42-14 for the 60 minutes of play with senior goalie Ashlea Arvidson making 37 saves. 

 

Concordia and Gustavus will finish off the 2-game series on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. in St. Peter.