DULUTH, Minn. – The Augustana hockey team (1-1, 0-0 CCHA) bounced back on Saturday night in AMSOIL Arena with a 4-0 win over Minnesota Duluth (3-1, 0-0 NCHC). Josh Kotai secured his first shutout of the season with 40 saves. Three different Vikings netted their first goals of the season. 

Minnesota Duluth opened up the games with seven shots in the first six minutes of play. The ice tilted in Augustana's favor as the Bulldogs were pinged with an early holding penalty. Augustana held the puck in UMD's zone and garnered two shots on goal from Owen Baumgartner and Hayden Hennen. Augustana continued to apply pressure as Cole Burtch caused a turnover in the offensive zone and allowed Hunter Bischoff to step off the sidewall before he deked the netminder and netted his first of the season off the backhand. UMD found itself shorthanded less than a minute after the opening goal, allowing Augustana to continue applying pressure. Adam Gajan stood tall between the pipes for the Bulldogs for the remainder of the frame as the Vikings led 1-0 after 20 minutes of play.

The Bulldogs regained a majority of their possession throughout the second period but struggled to find an answer to Kotai's play in net. After a slew of penalties, the Bulldogs found themselves shorthanded and gave Augustana a five-on-three power play. After an offensive breakdown by the Vikings, Zam Plate led an odd-man rush while shorthanded and missed wide of the net. Jacob Jastrzebski turned the tide into an AU odd-man rush where he slid the puck over to Colton Friesen for his first of the season off a one-timer with less than 30 seconds remaining in the period. 

Augustana found itself on the defensive as UMD came out of the locker room with offensive pressure. Throughout the first 10 minutes of play, the Bulldogs fired nine shots on goal that were turned away by Kotai. With just over three minutes remaining in the frame, UMD pulled its netminder. Jastrzebski battled in the defensive zone and found Joey DelGreco, who fired in his first of the season from the Vikings' blueline on the empty cage. Bischoff added his second of the night after a strong hustle play to seal the deal, 4-0. 

Game Moments

• Leo Bulgakov made his debut in the Navy and Gold.
• Kotai made 40 saves in his first shutout of the season.
• Three separate Vikings scored their first goals of the season.
• Jastrzebski tallied two assists in his second career game, including his first collegiate point on Augustana's second goal.
• Burtch won 13 faceoffs.
• Easton Young led the Vikings with seven shots.
• The Vikings killed off two power plays.

Goals

• Bischoff opened up the scoring in the first period with his first of the season. He played the puck off the sidewall and deked the goaltender before putting the rubber top shelf off the backhand. 
• Friesen collected his first goal of the season late in the second period off a pass from Jastrzebski.
• DelGreco pushed the Vikings' lead to three with an empty net goal from behind Augustana's blue line.
• Bischoff sealed the game with a hustle play that resulted in his second of the night on the empty cage.

Up Next
Augustana opens up its home portion of the 2025-26 season against No. 15 Arizona State at Midco Arena on Friday, Oct. 17 and Saturday, Oct. 18. The Vikings will be giving away magnet schedules for the 2025-26 season on Friday's affair. Before Saturday's games, Augustana will be hosting a Puck Drop Block Party from 3-5 p.m. before giving away custom hockey blankets. 

Friday's game is set for a 7:07 p.m. puck drop. Saturday's puck drop is slated for 6:07 p.m. 

Single-game tickets, season tickets and six-game flex packs are available at GoAugie.com/Tickets