SATURDAY GAME RECAP: AUGUSTANA 3, NMU 1 (NMU Story)
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - After a dominant middle frame and carrying a 1-0 lead into the second intermission, the Wildcats (0-10-0, 0-0-0 CCHA) dropped game two of the weekend series to the Augustana Vikings (5-3-0, 2-2-0 CCHA) by a score of 3-1.
In a similar manner to last night, the two sides ended the first frame scoreless. The Vikings narrowly outshot the Wildcats, 11-7, and the Wildcats were unable to get a shot on goal in the game's only power play to this point. Freshman Oliver Auyeung-Ashton got the start tonight, stopping all 11 faced.
For just the second time this season, the Wildcats opened the scoring, as it was Tobias Pitka tallying his second goal in as many games, giving NMU a 1-0 lead just under five minutes into the middle frame. The Wildcats' second man-advantage of the game was much more dangerous than the first, and Kyle Bettens would have scored if not for a desperation save from Josh Kotai in tight on the Minnesota Duluth transfer. The 'Cats PK was put to work to end the second period, and it did well, capped off with an abbreviated breakaway for Michael Burchill. The 'Cats had one of its best periods of the 2000s, outshooting the Vikings 24-11 and killing a minute and a half of power play time.
Shortly after the carryover power play expired, the Vikings equalized on a shot from the point that Auyeung-Ashton was interfered with. The Wildcats would challenge, but because the freshman netminder was outside of the blue paint, the call on the ice stood. Goals just 71 seconds apart from Leonid Bulgakov and Joey DelGreco gave the Vikings its 3-1 lead just under halfway through the final period. The 'Cats pulled the goalie with two and a half minutes remaining, including leading scorer Caiden Gault hitting the post, but were unable to mount the comeback.
The 'Cats outshot the Vikings, as Viking goaltender Josh Kotai made 41 saves for a .976 SV%, just four saves shy of matching his career high. Faceoffs were closer tonight, with Augustana holding a 35-30 advantage, but it was Girts Silkalns who dominated the circle, winning 12 of his 15 (80%) faceoffs.
FRIDAY GAME RECAP: AIGUSTANA 2, NMU 1 (NMU Story)
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The NMU hockey team dropped its CCHA opener against the Augustana Vikings, 2-1, from Midco Arena.
The Wildcats (0-9-0, 0-1-0 CCHA) entered the CCHA schedule coming off the hardest non-conference slate in the country, and it wouldn't get any easier on the road. After receiving votes for four consecutive weeks and being ranked as high as #21/22 in the DI hockey polls, the Vikings (4-3-0, 1-2-0 CCHA) were swept on the road in Bemidji last weekend, and subsequently fell from grace in the rankings.
Wildcat netminder William Gramme earned his fifth start of the season and was a major reason the game remained scoreless after the first 20 minutes. The 'Cats were outshot 17-14 in the opening frame, with the Vikings holding a 14-6 on-target advantage, and Gramme was able to come up with multiple grade-A saves from dangerous positions. The 'Cats had the game's first power play opportunity, but they were unable to generate a shot attempt while Augustana registered one on goal during the Wildcat man advantage. The 'Cats held a wide margin in the faceoff dot during the opening frame, led by Jakub Altrichter, who went 4/5 (80%) in the circle.
The Vikings opened the scoring late in the second period off the stick of freshman Leonid Bulgakov, scoring the second goal of his collegiate career first point outside of his three-point weekend against the Arizona State Sun Devils. Brett Meerman and Owen Baumgartner both registered their first assists of the season. The 'Cats maintained its faceoff circle advantage through two periods, 21-14, with Girts Silkalns leading the 'Cats with eight wins on ten faceoffs.
After going 0/13 in the last four games, the Viking power play converted on its first opportunity of the night, doubling its lead six minutes into the third period, as it was Meerman who scored off an assist from Bulgakov. The 'Cats had a five-on-three man advantage for a minute and a half, including a crossbar hit by Caiden Gault, but were ultimately unable to convert. Shortly after the penalty expired, Tobias Pitka and Grayden Slipec combined for a goal, as Pitka cut into the lead just over halfway through the period. Gramme had to be sharp on an ensuing Auggie power play, making four saves, before Dave Shyiak and company pulled their goaltender. The 'Cats had a minute and a half of six-on-five, but were unable to find the equalizer.
For the game, NMU was outshot 69-47, with a 48-25 Viking advantage on target. NMU went 0/3 on the man-advantage and went 1/2 on the penalty kill. The 'Cats got it done in the faceoff circle, winning 35 draws to AUG's 23, the third-most wins in one game and the best differential (+12) on the season
