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Northern Michigan University

The Official Website of the Northern Michigan Wildcats Northern Michigan Wildcats
Tynan Ewart
Tynan Ewart
1
Northern Mich. NMU 0-10-0, 0-2-0
3
Winner Augustana (SD) AUG 5-3-0, 2-2-0
Northern Mich. NMU
0-10-0, 0-2-0
1
Final
3
Augustana (SD) AUG
5-3-0, 2-2-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 F
Northern Mich. NMU 0 1 0 1
Augustana (SD) AUG 0 0 3 3

Game Recap: Hockey | | Braden Golisek - Assistant Director of Sports Information

Vikings Score Three Unanswered Goals in the Third Period, ‘Cats Fall 3-1

Wildcats recorded 24 shots in the second period, the second-most single-period shots for NMU since 2004

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.

'Cat Nips
  • Pitka (3-2--5) now has goals in back-to-back games, scoring his third of the season
  • Matthew Argentina (0-1--1) picked up his first point of the season, garnering the lone assist on the Pitka goal
  • The Wildcats scored first tonight, marking just the second game this season to do so (1-2 OTL to Colorado College, and now tonight)
  • The Wildcats fired 24 shots on goal in the second period, the second-most single-period shots for the Green and Gold in the modern NCAA era (27 in period two at Minnesota-Duluth on October 13, 2023).

How It Happened
The Wildcats opened the scoring off the stick of the man who scored the 'Cats lone goal last night. Pitka won an offensive zone faceoff, and Argentina crashed the night. Argentina shoveled a puck on target that generated a rebound, and Pitka was Johnny-on-the-spot to shovel home his second of the weekend.

 
The Vikings tied the game just a minute into the period, as a Cole Burtch shot from the point found its way through a screen to beat Auyeung-Ashton over the glove through some contact. The Wildcats challenged for goaltender interference, but the officials weren't moved.

Augustana gained its first lead of the evening just over halfway through the third period, as a point shot was handled by Auyeung-Ashton. The goalkeeper thought he had the puck in the bread basket, but a strange bounce found its way onto the stick of Bulgakov, who had a wide-open net to look at.

The Vikings extended its lead to two just a minute later, as DelGreco finished off a mad scramble to the stick side of Auyeung-Ashton.



 
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