MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. — In their first CCHA series as full members of the conference, the Augustana Vikings salvaged a split Saturday night at Saint Thomas Ice Arena.
Freshmen Tyler Hennen and Joey DelGreco each tallied their first collegiate goal, and Josh Kotai delivered another stellar performance between the pipes, propelling Augustana to a 3-2 win on the road against St. Thomas.
The victory snapped a three-game skid for the Vikings (4-4), who dropped a 4-0 decision against the Tommies in Friday’s series opener.
George Dannecker / Tommie Athletics
On Saturday, Kotai finished with 38 saves, including 17 in the second period alone, to improve to 4-3 on the season.
Augustana never trailed in the contest. DelGreco got the scoring started at 3:03 of the opening period on a backdoor tip-in, with Simon Falk and Colton Friesen each tallying an assist on the goal.
Tommies forward Ryan O’Neill scored a power-play goal later in the period to even the game at 1-1. However, midway through the second frame, Brett Meerman moved the Vikings back ahead, 2-1, on a goal from below the faceoff dot, as Owen Bohn and Luke Mobley were each credited with an assist.
Then, at 15:10 of the second, Liam Malmquist scored an unassisted goal while the Tommies (2-4-1) were shorthanded, but that was as close as UST was able to get.
With 11:44 remaining in the game, Hennen provided the game-winning goal on passes from Garrett Drotts and Payton Matsui.
NCAAM
One of the state’s top scorers in high school hockey history Tyler Hennen scores his first NCAA goal. It’s a game-winner for the former Kittson County Central star. pic.twitter.com/iNDzAj0ftM
— YHH (@YouthHockeyHub) November 3, 2024
Brady Ziemer finished with five blocked shots to pace the Vikings defensively.
On Friday, goaltender Aaron Trotter provided a 20-save shutout to lift UST to victory. Matthew Gleason scored twice for the Tommies, while Liam Malmquist chipped in a pair of assists.
Despite holding UST scoreless through the first 20 minutes of the game, Kotai stopped 24 shots in a losing effort.
The Vikings will now turn their attention to a two-game set next weekend at Midco Arena versus Bemidji State, which opened conference play with a split at home against Minnesota State.
Trent Singer is a sports reporter for Sioux Falls Live. He focuses his coverage on Augustana men’s hockey and Sioux Falls area sports. Singer’s previous stops include Just Women’s Sports, the Southeast Missourian and the Kentucky New Era.
