| Summary: | Sports Pago 14, Concordian, December 16, 1983 Cobber skaters split weekend series Nornes netfinder hips Johnnies by pete Finelli If excitement is what you like to see in sports, then being a Con-cordia hockey booster should be your bag of thrills. Not only did the Cobbers pull out a 5-4 overtime win over St. John's in miracle fashion last weekend at the Moorhead Sports Center, but they also notched their first victory of the young season. And what a win it was. Retaliating from a humbling 6-3 loss to the Johnnies Friday night, the Cobbers exhibited winning hockey from the start on Saturday afternoon. Mel Bailey's first period power play goal gave the Cobbers a quick 1-0 lead. And they needed it as Concordia entered the se-cond period down two men to penalties. The Johnnies capitalized and tied the game, 1-1. Mark Vatnsdal and Ron Clark then tallied to give the Cobbers a two-goal advantage. Clark dribbled the puck past Johnnie goalie Tom Etienne on a perfect feed from fellow frosh Clayton Wiffen. The lead soon diminished as St. John's scored less than 20 seconds later to close to within one. After Erick Grafstrom nail-ed a slapshot for a 4-2 Concor-dia lead, the Johnnies de javued by thrusting themselves into striking range at 4-3. And strike they did. With two minutes left in regula-tion, the Cobber defense slip-ped up and allowed a Johnnie forward to sneak through and beat senior goalie Steve Little with the tying tally. Thus, the stage was set for over-time. Nine minutes and 44 seconds of the ten-minute extra period had elapsed when Rosemount senior .Mike Pitsenberger took charge. Following a center ice faceoff, he fired a shot from the blue line that sailed behind the net where freshman Shawn Lund pounced on the puck and fed It into the crease. Blooming ton junior Steve Nornes, Concordian's Player of the Week (see related story on page), claimed hero honors by sending the puck over an outstretched Etienne at the :06 mark. "I had a feeling I'd put it in," said Norness. "My line was going hot. Our best line play all year. It's about time, too. We needed the win." Outward Bouncr The course thai never ends So did Coach Al Rice. "It feels great!" related Rice. "It's always good to win the close games under pressure. That shows maturity. I just told the guys near the end of the game to put the puck in the net." In Friday's game, the Cobbers grabbed an early 1-0 lead that evolved into a 4-3 deficit after two stanzas. The game stayed close in the third period until two late gar-bage goals sealed the con-ference opener for the John-nies. Freshman goalie Brad Bergstrom played well and stop-ped 34 -Johnnie shots on goal. The Skating Cobbers (1-6) play host to non-conference rival Winnipeg tonight and tomor-row. K73 Sports will broadcast both games live from the Sports Center. Cobs cold In Alaska The Cobbers went winless in four outings during a week-long excursion to Alaska that ended nine days ago. Concordia lost a two-game series to the University of Alaska-Anchorage by scores of 12-3 and 5-3. Fairbanks then swept the Cobbers 6-3 and 10-1 in another two-game set up in the Eskimo State. "We've had a lot of tough com-petition so far," said Coach Rice. "We've been a little frustrated because of our very challenging early schedule. They play good hockey up north." PI of the Week by Steve Wammer Moorhead Sports Center. Cobbers verse Johnnies. Overtime. Twen-ty seconds to go. Score tied at 4. Faceoff at center ice. Cobbers control. Pitsenberger shoots. Wide left. Lund feeds puck to Nornes. Front of the net. Six seconds. Shoots. He scores! Final score. Cobs 5, Johns 4. Nornes' overtime goal late Saturday afternoon gave Concordia its first win in seven tries this season and earned Steve Concordian Player of the Week honors. Do you like OT, Steve? "I like it," says Steve. "I've played overtimes in both high school and college and we've always done well." In fact, Steve skated for the Minnesota state champion Bloom-ington Jefferson hockey team his senior year. "We needed this win after al! those losses," noted Nornes. "It was important for us to get back a positive attitude. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the conference schedule." Steve's individual goals include "putting the puck in the net" and "becoming a better team player." Nornes is majoring in hospital administration and plans to travel throughout Europe following graduation. The junior wing uses a Christian Bros, hockey weapon and is "looking for a girl with a good personality." Christmas ideas, girls? Steve would love a brand new car. An RX7, in fact. An RX7, indeed. Johnnie goalie Tom Etienne blocks a Cobber shot on goal during Friday's 6-3 loss to arch rival St. John's at the Moorhead Sports Center.
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