SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Viking Hockey battled stride for stride with Lake Superior State and erased an early deficit with a second-period power-play goal, but the Lakers found the game-winner midway through the third to secure a 2-1 result in CCHA play.

The opening 20 minutes were defined by defensive structure and a steady start from Augustana goaltender Josh Kotai. Lake Superior State generated the first wave of offensive pressure and finished the period with a 14-9 edge in shots, but Kotai turned aside every even-strength look to keep the game scoreless into the final minutes of the frame. Late in the period, the Lakers broke through on the power play. After Augustana was called for tripping at 8:37 and then hooking at 16:13, LSSU stayed on the attack with the man advantage and capitalized at 17:30. Hunter Ramos finished the sequence to put the home team up 1–0, with Connor Milburn and Carter Batchelder earning the assists. 

Augustana's response arrived in the second period and came on special teams in a stretch that flipped momentum. The Lakers were whistled for hooking at 2:37 and interference at 6:36, giving the Vikings consecutive power-play chances to settle into the offensive zone. When LSSU took a cross-checking penalty at 8:18, Augustana made the third opportunity count. 40 seconds later, Friesen scored on the power play at 8:58 off passes from Brett Meerman and Leo Bulgakov, tying the game 1-1. It was Friesen's fifth of the season.

With the score even heading to the third, both teams tightened defensively and waited for the next bounce. A third-period hooking call on Augustana at 7:43 gave Lake Superior another chance with the extra skater, but the Vikings' penalty kill did its job and the game remained tied into the middle portion of the period. The decisive moment came at 13:40 of the third. Lake Superior State struck as Branden Piku scored on a breakaway to restore the Laker lead, finishing a play set up by Evan Bushy and Milburn. Down 2-1, Augustana pushed late, pulling the goalie for an extra attacker in the final minutes. The Vikings equalized the game with 1:09 remaining in the frame, but a successful challenge by the Lakers denied the game-tying goal. AU continued to generate chances during the final surge, but Rorke Applebee and the Laker defense held to the horn.

Game Moments

• Lake Superior State opened scoring on the power play at 17:30 of the first.
• Friesen answered with a power-play goal at 8:58 in the second to tie it 1-1.
• Piku's even-strength strike at 13:40 of the third proved to be the game-winner.
• Augustana won 61.4 percent of its faceoffs. Jacob Jastrzebski led all skaters with 14 wins, while Joey DelGreco won 11.

Goals

• Ramos recorded the first strike of Friday's game from Milburn and Batchelder.
• Friesen netted his fifth of the season off passes from Meerman and Bulgakov.
• Piku scored the game-winning goal on a breakaway.

Up Next
Augustana continues the series with Lake Superior State tomorrow night in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan as the Vikings look to even the weekend. Puck drop is slated for 5:07 p.m. (cst.).