Gameday Scoreboard:

Team	1	2	3	Final
	1	1	1	3
	0	1	0	1

Game Stats: Concordia vs. UW-Stevens Point Box Score - Now Online!

Opponent's Website: UW-Stevens Point Men's Hockey

Gameday Rewind:

Game Stats: Concordia vs. UW-Stevens Point Box Score - Now Online!

Gameday Game Recap:

MOORHEAD, Minn. (10/31/08)-- Concordia showed off their new brand hockey on Friday against UW-Stevens Point in the season opener. The Cobbers' up-tempo style of play caused the Pointers to take 14 penalties in the game but unfortunately CC went 1-for-11 on the power play and lost 3-1 to Stevens Point.

The two-goal deficit was the only thing that spoiled the debut of head coach Chris Howe who was behind the bench for his first collegiate game. The Pointers have now won two straight to start the season.

The game was a contrast in styles between the two teams. Concordia wanted to speed up and down the ice and keep the game on the wings, while UW-Stevens Point was content to use their size advantage and keep the play in the middle of the rink. The theme of the game would play out in the very first 17 seconds of the opening period. The Pointers took the first of their 15 penalties in the game and Concordia wasn't able to capitalize on the subsequent power play. The Cobbers would go 0-for-4 on the power play in the opening frame and then 1-for-4 in the second period before finishing the game 0-for-3 in the final period.

Stevens Point got on the board at 8:13 of the first period when Garrett Suter made a nice move cutting to the front of the net and threw the puck upstairs past Cobber goalie Elliot Okland. Mike Sand was credited with the assist on the play. The first period had six penalties whistled as the referees cracked down on the new hooking point of emphasis.

The Pointers built their lead to 2-0 in the first three minutes of the second period. Tom Upton's wrist shot some how made its way through a maze of players in front of the net and got behind Okland at 2:21. It looked as if Concordia wouldn't be able to get on the board in the first two periods as they failed to score on three power play attempts. Things changed at the very end of the frame when UW-Stevens Point took three straight penalties in a span of 1:22. CC had a significant 5-on-3 advantage before finally scoring at 19:42. Ryan Clukey was able to get a shot on goal in front of a pack of players at the Pointers net. Sophomore Michael Weiss then swooped in to clean up the rebound and pull CC to within one at 2-1. The goal would also give Concordia the momentum heading into the third period.

The Cobbers killed off a penalty to start the third period before Stevens Point got an insurance goal at 6:11. Jon Madden's shot from just inside the blue line fooled Okland and slipped between his pads for the fourth goal of the game.

Concordia's best chance to get closer came in the final four minutes of the game. Once again Stevens Point took three straight penalties to give CC a two-man advantage for an extended amount of time. After taking a timeout with 3:19 left to play, the Cobbers came out and hit the crossbar on one shot and then the post on another. The Pointers were able to kill off the power play attempts and hold back Concordia's comeback attempt to take the win.

For the game, Stevens Point outshot Concordia 31-29. The Pointers held an 18-12 advantage in the third period after only getting 13 shots in the first two periods combined. Okland stopped 28 shots in goal for CC and kept the game close in the beginning of the third period when UW-SP came out strong and put several quality shots on goal. Pointer goalie Thomas Speer made 28 saves to earn his second win of the season.

Concordia will look for the first win of the year when they host UW-Eau Claire on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.