(Canton, MI) Concordia Women's Ice hockey team hosted Indiana Tech at the Artic Edge on Friday December 1st at 6:00 PM. The Cardinals lost last year in both of their meetings against Indiana Tech, however this time they were able to get the victory by a score of 5-2. With the victory it puts the Cardinals at an overall record of 5-8 and 2-5 in Conference Play. This win was their first over Indiana Tech and makes it four straight victories for the Cardinals, their longest streak in program history.
The beginning of the game both teams were exchanging possessions at each other's end. However, that did not last long as Indiana Tech was able to get the first power play of the game after Makayla Steinmetz from Concordia got called for hooking. For this power play Indiana Tech had the advantage however they were unable to score and just as their power play was ending Concordia's Tiffany Jentz got the puck in the net after a great set up by Grace Dodgson in the sixth minute of the first period. Both teams would get other chances to score but couldn't convert even when Concordia had a power play of their own. The first period ended with Concordia in the lead 1-0.
As the second period started Concordia did not take their foot of the gas as they scored a second goal in the first minute of the period that came from Makayla Steinmetz to take a controlling 2-0 lead against a Indiana Tech team ranked 9th in the ACHA. Indiana Tech could not find any answer for how Concordia was playing them in this game. They had multiple chances to score in this period with their best chance coming in the final minute of the period when Michelle Borland just hit the top of the crossbar and couldn't convert. Concordia had a chance to shut out Indiana Tech for only the second time in the season when they lost to Minot State back in October. The second period came to an end with Concordia up 2-0.
The third period did not start the way Indiana Tech was hoping for as they gave Concordia an early power play opportunity. With that power play Grace Dodgson was able to score in the fifth minute to give the Cardinals a commanding 3-0 lead. However, Indiana Tech would not go away as they finally gained some rhythm on offense scoring two goals in the ninth minute and 13th minute. Those goals were scored by Genessie Williams in the last seconds of a power play and the other was by Ashley Episcopo to cut the lead to just one. Just when Indiana Tech had all the momentum back and were trying to come back, Concordia responded with two more goals of their own in the 18th and 19th minutes of the period. Emma Shore scored Concordia's second shorthanded goal of the game followed by Tiffany Jentz putting a puck in front of the empty Indiana Tech net for her second goal of the game. The back-to-back goals put the game away at the end and the Cardinals walked away with a 5-2 victory over Indiana Tech.
Concordia's leader in goals was Tiffany Jentz who had two, leader in assists was Mallory Collins with two. Concordia had a total of eight penalty minutes with four infractions, and had 28 total shots. Concordia's goaltender Rose Lennon had 26 saves against 28 shots and allowed just two goals.
Indiana Tech's leader in goals was a two way tie between Genessie Williams and Ashley Episcopo who each had one. They also had a tie in assists by Dakota Bowler and Michelle Borland who each had one. Indiana Tech had a total of six penalty minutes with three infractions, and had 28 total shots. Izzy Varner, their goaltender had 23 saves on 27 shots and allowed four goals with the fifth one coming on an open net.
Concordia will look to make it five wins in a row when they travel to Fort Wayne, Indiana on December 2nd at 4:00 PM to take on Indiana Tech again.
