MARQUETTE, Mich. – Josh Kotai stopped all 18 shots he faced to earn a shutout as Augustana skated to a 3-0 victory over Northern Michigan on Friday night at the Berry Events Center.

The Vikings (13-6-3, 7-4-3 CCHA) scored a power-play goal in the second period, added an even-strength tally midway through the third and finished off the win with an empty-netter in the closing minute. Northern Michigan dropped to 1-22-0 overall and 1-14-0 in league play.

Augustana generated early chances in a scoreless first period and carried play for long stretches, outshooting the Wildcats 13-8 through 20 minutes. Northern Michigan threatened briefly in the opening minutes with a shot off the post, but Kotai settled in quickly and turned aside each of the first-period looks that reached the net.

The breakthrough came in the second period after a sequence of penalties created special-teams opportunities on both sides. With Northern Michigan called for hooking at 12:46, Augustana went to work on the power play and converted less than a minute later. Brett Meerman scored at 13:42 on the man advantage, finishing a set-up from Owen Baumgartner and Leonid Bulgakov to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead.

Augustana continued to control possession in the third period and found an insurance goal at 12:18. Samo Meritähti scored at even strength, taking a feed from Ben Troumbly and Callum Gau and beating Oliver Auyeung-Ashton to make it 2-0. Northern Michigan pulled its goalie late, but the Vikings closed the door defensively and added to the lead in the final minute. Joey DelGreco scored into the empty net at 19:33, assisted by Colton Friesen and Owen Bohn, sealing the 3-0 win.

Augustana finished with a 33-18 advantage in shots on goal and blocked 14 Wildcat attempts. Auyeung-Ashton made 30 saves for Northern Michigan in the loss, while Kotai earned the win and was credited as the game's first star.

Game Moments

• Meerman opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 13:42 of the second period.
• Kotai stopped all 18 shots he faced to secure the shutout.
• Augustana held Northern Michigan to just 10 shots on goal over the final two periods (5 in the second, 5 in the third).
• Meritähti doubled the lead at 12:18 of the third with an even-strength tally.
• DelGreco added an empty-net goal with 27 seconds remaining to finish the scoring.
• Augustana went 1-for-2 on the power play; Northern Michigan went 0-for-3.

Goals

• Meerman tipped in his eighth of the season off a shot from Baumgartner that was set up along the sidewall from Bulgakov.
• Meritähti fired in his second of the season off a dish from Troumbly.
• DelGreco added an empty net goal in the final minute of play to help secure the 3-0 win.

Up Next
Augustana closes out the weekend series on Saturday night. Puck drop is slated for 5:07 p.m.