(O'Fallon, IL) - The Concordia Cardinals Women's Hockey team took a weekend trip down to southern Illinois to face off with the McKendree Bearcats. In a pair of close contests, the Bearcats came out victorious, defeating the Cardinals by scores of 4-3 and 4-1.
The Cardinals entered the weekend with a 3-6 record overall on the season, while the Bearcats entered with a 3-4-1 mark.
Game 1 - McKendree 4, Concordia 3
Amanda Crundwell started in net for Concordia, recording 46 saves in the loss.
In a contest filled with a laundry list of penalties and powerplay opportunities for each side (40 penalty minutes and 15 powerplays combined), the Cardinals would be the first to strike on the powerplay, as Mallory Collins picked up a stike just under 3 minutes into the contest. Grace Dodgson would record an assist on the score. McKendree snagged a shorthanded goal a few minutes later in the frame, but the Cardinals would bounce back in the final minutes of the period when Grace Dodgson would score the second powerplay goal of the game for Concordia, this time with Jenna Peet on the assist. CUAA would hold the lead the rest of the period, holding a 2-1 lead heading into the 2nd.
In the middle frame, the Cardinals scored once again on the advantage, as Jenna Peet would get on the board at the 5:42 mark to give CUAA the 3-1 lead. McKendree would strike back, picking up their first powerplay goal of the contest just under halfway through the period to cut the deficit. The Bearcats would continue to push, finishing the second period with 19 shots on target, but Crundwell would hold firm, helping the Cards hold their one-goal lead into the second intermission.
The third period would begin in favor of McKendree, as they would score at the 12:13 mark of the period to tie the game. Despite an even period with a combined 21 shots between the sides, the Bearcats would come up with the final strike in the tight matchup, scoring once again on the powerplay with less than 3 minutes to go in the game to take the 4-3 lead, which they would hold onto to secure the win in the weekend opener.
Game 2 - McKendree 4, Concordia 1
Amanda Crundwell started in net for Concordia, making 32 saves in the contest.
Game number two of the weekend would begin with another even battle, as the teams were seperated by only one shot (12-11 for Concordia) and one powerplay opportunity (3-2 for Concordia) during the opening 20 minutes of play, but neither side could beat the opposing goaltender as the team's went into the first intermission scoreless.
After another 14 and a half minutes of scoreless hockey, the Cardinals would be the ones to open the scoring, picking up a goal from Melanie Foucha to take a lead late in the second frame. The Bearcats would answer back with less than 90 seconds to go in the period, however, knotting the game up at 1 as both sides headed into the second break.
McKendree came out flying in the final period of play, outshooting Concordia 14-4 in the third and picking up a trio of goals (including one on the powerplay). The Cardinals would be unable to answer the attack of the Bearcats, as they would hold the three-goal advantage as time expired for a 4-1 win.
The Cardinals will be back in action on Friday, November 18th when they head to Byron Center, MI to take on the Aquinas Saints. Puck drop is set for 7:30pm at Southside Ice Arena.
