SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Augustana) – The Augustana hockey team (5-5, 2-2 CCHA) cruised past Bemidji State (4-5, 3-3 CCHA) Saturday night in Midco Arena by a score of 5-1. A three-goal period surge by the Vikings pushed the Vikings to its second conference win this season.
Augustana bounced back from Friday’s loss as Colton Friesen opened up the first-period scoring before Bemidji State evened the odds three minutes later. Joey DelGreco regained Augustana’s advantage in the second period with Joey DelGreco’s third goal of the season. Tyler Hennen added on to his strong weekend with AU’s third goal of the game before Brett Meerman scored back-to-back to push Augustana to victory.
It took just over 10 minutes of play for Augustana to take a 1-0 lead as Friesen netted his second goal of the season through the five-hole of Mattias Sholl. Bemidji State answered back three minutes later with Reilly Funk’s second of the weekend. Both teams skated to the locker rooms tied 1-1.
DelGreco continued his strong weekend with his third of the season on the power play 8:20 into the second period after a pass from Brett Meerman. Augustana led in shots on goal 20-12 by the buzzer.
The Vikings exploded in the third period after T. Hennen pushed Augustana’s lead to two. Two minutes after Augustana’s third goal of the game, Brett Meerman found the back of the net for his third of the season with a wrister past Shool’s blocker. Meerman continued his momentum with an empty netter to seal Augustana’s fifth win of the season.
Game Moments
- T. Hennen and DelGreco slotted in their third goals of the season and second of the weekend.
- DelGreco had his first career multipoint night with one goal and one assist.
- Meerman exploded on the scoresheet with two goals and one assist for his first career three-point night.
- Josh Kotai made 22 saves and moved to 5-4 on the season.
- Nine Vikings tallied points in the win.
- Luke Mobley went 60 percent on the faceoff dot in 20 attempts.
- Augustana killed off both of its penalties.
Goals
- Friesen slotted in the first goal of the game as he slid the rubber between the pads of Shool. DelGreco and Hayden Hennen collected assists.
- Funk scored his second goal of the season to even the score at 1-1. Eric Martin and Kirklan Irey tallied assists.
- DelGreco regained Augustana’s lead with his third of the season on the power play. Meerman collected his fourth assist on the season.
- T. Hennen continued his hot weekend with a goal in the midway point of the third period after a shot from Evan McIntyre.
- Meerman wired in his first goal of the game with a wrist shot past Shool’s blocker. Hunter Bischoff and Kotai earned assists.
- Meerman sealed the game with an empty netter after he received a pass from Owen Bohn.
Up Next
Augustana heads to Michigan next weekend as it’s slated to face the USNTDP in two exhibition games.
