OMAHA, Neb. – The Augustana hockey team captured its second-ranked win in program history, defeating No. 12 Omaha Friday night in Baxter Arena, 2-1. Luke Mobley and Callum Gau tallied goals in the historic win. Josh Kotai manned the pipes and stopped 34 of 35 shots to record his second win of the season. 

Augustana went on the special teams early in the first period after Hayden Hennen was pinged with a two-minute minor for tripping. Mobley, Joey DelGreco and Gau soaked shots throughout the man-advantage to keep the game square at 0-0. With less than three minutes remaining in the first frame, Kotai made back-to-back heroic saves after the puck made an awkward bounce off the boards. 

Omaha found the back of the net first late in the second period as Zach Urdahl fired his first of the season from inside the dots. UNO skated into the locker room with a 1-0 lead. 

The Vikings opened up the third period with momentum as Hunter Bischoff, Easton Young, Payton Matsui and Jeff Hutchinson all recorded shots within the first minute of play. Augustana went on to total eight shots within five minutes of play. 

Six minutes into the final frame, Augustana went back on the penalty kill after Bischoff was hit with a two-minute minor for tripping. 25 seconds into the penalty kill, Matsui made a play on a Maverick defender and opened up the lane for Mobley to score the game-tying goal off a shot from the top of the circle through the goalie's five-hole. Mobley's shorthanded goal is the third in program history. 

Augustana's momentum carried into the final minutes of play as Gau recorded the game-winning goal with 2:19 remaining in the period. Gau tallied his first of the season off passes from Bischoff and H. Hennen. The Vikings buckled down to the final buzzer to record Augustana's second win of the season. 

Game Moments

• Friday's win against No. 12 Omaha is Augustana's second-ever ranked win in program history.
• Garett Drotts made his collegiate debut in Augustana's win. 
• Kotai recorded 34 saves.
• Mobley scored the third shorthanded goal in program history. 
• Four Vikings totaled points. 
• H. Hennen soaked a team-high six shots.
• Augustana outshot Omaha 36-35.

Goals

• Urdahl scored the game's first goal and broke the stalemate for Omaha. Noah Ellis collected the assist.
• Mobley scored his third goal of the season from the top of the circle through the goaltender's five-hole.
• Gau netted the game-winner for his first goal of the season. Bischoff and H. Hennen tallied apples. 

Up Next
Augustana returns to Baxter Arena on Saturday night as it closes out the weekend series against No. 12 Omaha. Puck drop is set for 7:07 p.m.