WINONA, Minn. — When the Saint Mary's University men's hockey team entered its Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season-ending weekend series against Concordia, the Cardinals' path to an MIAC Playoff berth was simple and smooth — beat the Cobbers twice.
After Friday's 7-1 loss to Concordia, however, that path became complex and full of pot holes.
Not only did the Cardinals have to beat the Cobbers, but they also needed St. Olaf to stumble in its finale against Gustavus, and Bethel to falter against Hamline.
That coveted playoff invitation was still within their grasp … except that Concordia refused to follow the Cardinals' script.
Concordia scored two goals, 17 seconds apart early in the third period, breaking a 1-1 tie and leading the Cobbers to a 4-1 win over the Cardinals — ending any hopes SMU had of a second straight post-season appearance.
The Cobbers would score the only goal of the first two periods, getting a goal from Hansoin O'Leary with less than five minutes to play in the second period — and CC would carry that one-goal advantage into the third period.
A period in which both teams turned up the offensive heat – combining for three goals in a 46-second span.
Saint Mary's pulled even with the Cobbers at 1-1 when
Andrew Froese (Traverse City, Mich.) whistled a shot pat CC goalie Matt Fitzgerald at 5:55 of the final frame. Unfortunately, the game remained deadlocked for just 29 seconds, as Caden Triggs answered Froese's goal with one of his own — and, 17 seconds after that, the Cobbers' lead climbed to 3-1 when Mason Plante beat SMU goalie A.J. Ruskowski for his third goal of the weekend.
Joe Harguindeguy sealed the win — and the Cardinals' fate — with an empty net goal with 34 seconds remaining.
The Cardinals ended the year with an 11-13-1 overall record, including a 7-9-0 mark in conference play.
