Centimeters, No Millimeters Closer

MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/08/13)—Concordia showed measurable improvement from their 4-0 season-opening loss to St. Norbert last week by skating to a 0-0 overtime tie with UW-Stevens Point on Friday.

It is only the second 0-0 overtime tie in program history. CC skated to a 0-0 draw with St. Mary's on February 15, 2013.

The Cobbers controlled the game for long periods of time and outshot the Pointers 22-18.

Concordia's first-year head coach Sarah Erickson was pleased with the way the team played and stated, "we're getting closer, we're inching towards our goals of winning and putting a complete game together."

The game with undefeated UW-Stevens Point was played in shifts with each team getting extended zone time during each period. The most lopsided shot advantage came in the second period when Concordia's forecheck refused to let the Pointers clear the zone for the eight minutes of play and CC came away with a 9-1 edge in shots on goal.

"That was fun," summarized Erickson about the period. "That's the way hockey is supposed to be played. I told the players we are there, we are right there."

Concordia's best chance of the game came during the eight-minute flurry when the Cobbers forced a goalmouth scramble and the puck was inches from crossing the goal line on several occasions. As the bodies piled into the crease, the puck continued to lay just outside the Pointer net but no one was able to get a stick on it to knock it into the net.

Stevens Point responded in the third period by stepping up their intensity and breaking the puck out of their end on a consistent basis. This led to the Pointers holding a 9-4 advantage in shots in the third period.

The best chance of the overtime period came when a Stevens Point forward stepped in front of an errant Cobber clearing attempt and went in on a breakaway from the blue line. Fortunately for Concordia, goalie Madison Denny stood her ground and was able to make the game-saving stop.

The game featured only four penalties with Concordia being held scoreless on their three power play attempts and Stevens Point going 0-for-1 on the man advantage.  

Cobber freshman Amber Schaack had a game-high six shots and spearheaded an all first-year line that accounted for seven of the team's 22 total shots.  

Denny stopped all 18 shots she faced to earn her fifth career shutout. Pointer goalie Janna Beilke-Skoug made 22 saves and is now 1-0-1 on the year.

The same two teams will meet tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. to finish up the two-game series. Erickson is hoping to end the scoreless streak to start the season. "It's gonna be an ugly one," remarked Erickson. It's not gonna come pretty, I can guarantee you that but we are within centimeters, maybe even millimeters of getting that first goal."