Box Score Game Summary vs. Concordia / GameDay Online

WINONA, Minn. — Saturday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game against Concordia had a rather familiar feel to it for Cardinal coach Bill Moore.

It could have been the fact that SMU gave up the game's first goal — again.

Or, it could have been the fact that the Cardinals scored three goals in the second period — again.

It might even have been the fact that the game went into overtime — again.

In fact, Saturday's conference game against the Cobbers really was similar to Friday's.

Except for the late-game heroics.

Unlike Friday, when SMU's Andy Roberts (Rochester, Minn.) scored the game-winner less than two minutes into overtime, the Cardinals didn't have any OT tricks up their sleeves Saturday, as SMU and Concordia battled to a 3-3 tie at the SMU Ice Arena.

“This is one of those ties that feels a little bit like a win,” said SMU coach Bill Moore, whose team rallied from a 2-0 first-period deficit in improving to 1-2-1 in the MIAC and 1-6-1 overall. “To play as poorly as we did in the first period — getting outshot 18-4 and outscored 2-0 — and come back to get a tie, that's OK.”

The Cobbers were out front 1-0 before the fans were even situated in their seats, as Alec Holen beat SMU goalie Greg Moore (Woodbury, Minn.) just 1:20 into the opening period. Erick Galt made it 2-0 at 14:29, as the Cobbers dominated the opening 20 minutes, boasting an 18-4 edge in shots on goal and that 2-0 advantage on the scoreboard.

“That first period might have been one of the worst we've played all year — and that really surprised me,” said Moore. “I figured after last night, we've come out looking to pick up right where we left off. Instead, we came out really flat and (Concordia) made us pay for it.”

Fortunately for the Cardinals, the second period was a much different story, as SMU swarmed the Cobber net, pelting 15 shots on Concordia goalie Mike Persson — including goals by Sean Geiger (Woodridge, Ill), Steve Murphy (Anchorage, Alaska) and Matt Staehely (Shorewood, Ill.) — as SMU transformed that 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 advantage with 2:26 remaining in the second period.

The lead didn't last long, however, as Knut Bitusloey beat Moore with just 22 seconds remaining in the second to knot the game at 3-3.

“That goal hurt,” said Moore of Bitusloey's late tally. “You always preach to your team that you don't want to give up goals in the first or last minutes of a period. We had a letdown late and Concordia capitalized.”

Neither team scored in the third period, thanks in large part to the play of Moore, who stopped 13 third-period shots en route to his 35-save effort. SMU held a 3-0 advantage in shots on goal in the OT, but could not get one past Persson.

“Concordia is a very good team — they are much better than their record indicates,” said Moore, whose Cardinals extended the Cobbers' winless streak to 31 straight (0-29-2), dating back to a season-opening win over UW-Eau Claire to kick off last season. “They work hard and really battle — I'm very happy to get three of four (conference) points off them.”