This story was written by NMU Sports Information. Scroll down to see Michigan Tech's story about Friday night's MTU 8-2 win over the 'Cats.
HOUGHTON, Mich. - The Northern Michigan hockey team came away with a 3-2 upset win over the #19/19 Michigan Tech Huskies on Saturday at the MacInnes Ice Arena behind a two-goal performance from Matthew Argentina and 42 saves from Oliver Auyeung-Ashton.
NMU was able to apply plenty of pressure to Michigan Tech goaltender Owen Bartoszkiewicz, outshooting the Huskies 9-3 through eight minutes, but MTU was then able to draw a pair of penalties. The Huskies thought they had taken advantage of the opportunity with the opening goal, but a successful challenge by Head Coach Dave Shyiak quickly waved off the tally due to goaltender interference. However, Elias Jansson would officially put Michigan Tech ahead 1-0 shortly thereafter, and that score would hold into the first intermission.
The Wildcats responded in the second period with a power play goal of their own as Tobias Pitka deflected in his fourth goal of the season after redirecting a shot by Peter Cisar from the left side of the net, knotting up the score at 1-1. Mathew Ward also picked up an assist on the play.
The Huskies were able to turn up the pressure in the third period, but Wildcat goaltender Auyeung-Ashton came away with save after save to keep the score tied at 1-1. Then, with nine minutes remaining in regulation, Argentina would find the back of the net to give his team the lead as the Wildcats capitalized on a rush opportunity that saw Cisar slide a rebound from a shot by Pitka across the crease over to a waiting Argentina who was ready to finish off the play. Argentina would tack on another late in the period, his third of the series and first multi-goal performance of his career, with an empty-netter for additional insurance that would ultimately become the game winner after Teydon Trembecky netted an extra-attacker goal with just over a minute remaining to cut the lead back down to one.
Auyeung-Ashton had another strong performance between the pipes with 42 saves on the night with his teammates helping alleviate the pressure with 20 blocked shots, defensively. NMU also finished the night 1-3 on the power play while the penalty kill was 5-6.
The 'Cats will now turn their attention to a home series against the Bemidji State Beavers in the Berry Events Center with puck drop for game one scheduled for Friday, Jan. 30 at 7:07 p.m.
STORY FROM FRIDAY NIGHT'S MICHIGAN TECH 8-2 WIN OVER NMU:
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The No. 19-ranked Michigan Tech hockey team won its sixth straight game after overwhelming rival Northern Michigan 8-2 on Friday at the Berry Events Center. It was the eighth straight win over the Wildcats, and the Huskies improved to 17-8-2 overall and 12-3-2 in the CCHA.
"We were totally in control, and our power play was good," Tech coach Bill Muckalt said. "We took our foot off the gas a bit in the third, but I'm happy with the results tonight. It was another important win, but we need to remain focused to finish the weekend tomorrow.."
Tech jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period. Isaac Gordon gave the Huskies the lead 3:07 into the game on the power play from Max Koskipirtti and Stiven Sardarian for his fifth of the season.
Stiven Sardarian made it 2-0 with his 10th of the season 3:00 later. Max Koskipirtti set up the play while Joe Prouty added the second assist.
Noah Reinhart stole the puck in the corner and found Teydon Trembecky, who roofed in his ninth of the season 1:50 later.
The Huskies scored four in the second. Reid Andresen scored on a setup from Stiven Sardarian and Isaac Gordon 5:16 after intermission. It was his fourth of the season.
Stiven Sardarian scored his second of the game at 6:10 of the second, sniping the upper corner on the power play from Max Koskipirtti and Jack Anderson. Sardarian leads the Huskies with 11 goals.
Noah Reinhart scored back-to-back goals for a 7-0 lead. He scored on the power play from Elias Jansson and Reid Andresen at 7:02 and then buried his sixth of the season from Jansson and Teydon Trembecky at 16:33.
NMU (1-24-0, 1-16-0 CCHA) found two goals in the third period. Peter Cisar scored at the 9:01 mark, and Matthew Argentina scored at 16:07 to get the home team on the board.
Teydon Trembecky scored his second of the game and 10th of the season with 53 seconds left for the final tally. Noah Reinhart and Joe Prouty assisted.
Tech led in shots 36-32 in the game. Owen Bartoszkiewicz made 30 saves to win his 17th game of the season, which is tied for the nation's lead.
Oliver Auyeung-Ashton started for the Wildcats and made four saves. William Gramme stopped 17 shots, and Max Weilandt played the third, making seven saves
Tech was 3-for-3 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
