SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Augustana hockey (10-16-3) dropped a Friday night contest to Lake Superior State (13-16-1, 9-11-1) by a score of 3-0 inside Taffy Abel Arena in its inaugural season presented by First PREMIER Bank / PREMIER Bankcard.

LSSU looked strong in the opening minutes of play as it fired a slew of shots throughout the offensive zone. An early penalty assessed to Hunter Bischoff got the Lakers off to a quick start. Augustana held strong through the opening penalty as Kayden Hargraves kept the game tied at 0-0. 

Augustana switched the momentum in its favor as it fired back offensively but Easton Hasse held strong between the pipes as the game remained tied at zero through 20 minutes of play. 

Both teams traded a handful of shots in the second period but the Lakers caught a break with a goal from the point to take a 1-0 lead with just over nine minutes to play. 

AU looked to tie the game but Hasse remained strong as the Lakers' skated into the third with a one-goal lead. 

LSSU jumped on the gas in the early moments of the third as Dawson St. Tritt found the back of the net to make the game 2-0. Both teams shared time on the power play as a handful of penalties were called throughout the play. 

With just over three minutes to go in the third, LSSU was pinged with a two-minute minor. Augustana pulled Hargraves to make a late-game push but the Lakers held on and slotted in an empty net goal minutes later to secure the 3-0 win. 

Game Moments

• Kayden Hargraves moved to 3-2 on the season in his fourth consecutive start. 
• Augustana won 30 faceoffs on the night. Luke Mobley led the Vikings with 15 faceoff wins.
• Uula Ruikka led the Vikings with five shots on goal. 

Goals

• Jack Blanchett rang the first goal of the night from the point. 
• Dawson Tritt found the back of the net to take a 2-0 lead for the Lakers. 
• Jared Westcott slotted in the empty net goal from the blue line to secure a 3-0 win for the Lakers. 

Up Next
Augustana finishes the weekend series Saturday night inside Taffy Abel Arena. Puck drop is set for 5:07 p.m. (CT)