SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana hockey downed No. 5 Minnesota Duluth 4-3 in an overtime thriller on Friday night at Midco Arena. The Vikings scored twice in the third period, and
Brett Meerman tapped in the dagger early into overtime to secure the highest-ranked win in program history.
The Vikings generated two looks on an early power play, but Minnesota Duluth pushed back with sustained pressure, including a Carter Murphy shot off the pipe and several stops by
Mathis Langevin. After
Joey DelGreco was called for interference late in the first period, Callum Arnott scored on the power play at 2:19 with assists from Jayson Shaugabay and Victor Plante to put Minnesota Duluth ahead 1-0.
Leonid Bulgakov answered at 1:31 with an unassisted even-strength goal, tying the game at 1-1. The Vikings went back on the power play in the final minute and put chances on Ethan Dahlmeir, but the first period ended tied 1-1.
The Vikings came out of the first intermission with several early looks, including attempts from
Easton Young, Meerman and
Nace Langus that Dahlmeir saved. Minnesota Duluth went on the power play at 15:38, but Langevin handled three Arnott shots and
Maxwell Chakrabarti blocked a Hunter Anderson attempt before
Owen Baumgartner returned. The Vikings later had a power play of their own after Brady Cleveland's holding penalty at 7:08, generating two
Jacob Jastrzebski attempts but coming up empty. The Vikings pushed late with four shots on goal in 13 seconds, but Minnesota Duluth scored at 0:56 on Barrett Hall's goal from Adam Kleber and Hunter Anderson and carried a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
The third period went without a goal deep into the frame as Langevin handled Minnesota Duluth chances and the Vikings created looks on two power plays, including saved shots from
Jacob Fletcher and Meerman.
Landon Fandel tied the game 2-2 at 3:11 off a DelGreco assist, and Fletcher put the Vikings ahead 3-2 just 17 seconds later with Samo Meritähti assisting. Minnesota Duluth pulled Ethan Dahlmeir for an extra attacker at 1:51, and Zam Plante scored at 1:21 from Jayson Shaugabay and Ty Hanson to tie the game 3-3. The Vikings had one final shot from
Hunter Bischoff saved in the closing seconds, and the period ended with the game tied 3-3.
The Vikings won the opening faceoff in overtime and quickly generated the only sequence of the extra session.
Hayden Hennen hit the pipe at 4:40, and Meerman scored the final dagger to secure the highest-ranked win in program history.
Game Moments
- Callum Arnott put UMD on the board first during a 1st-period power play off an assist from Jayson Shaugabay.
- Just 48 seconds after UMD took the lead, Leonid Bulgakov tied the game 1-1 at even strength before the first intermission.
- Trailing late in regulation, Augustana scored two rapid goals by Landon Fandel and Jacob Fletcher to take a dramatic 3-2 lead
- With UMD's goalie pulled, Zam Plante scored late in the third period to tie the game 3-3 and force overtime.
- Brett Meerman scored just 20 seconds into 3v3 overtime to seal a 4-3 upset victory for Augustana over Minnesota Duluth.
Goals
- Arnott scored his second of the season at 17:41 of the first period on the power play.
- Bulgakov netted his first of the year at 18:29 of the first period at even strength.
- Hall tallied his third of the season at 19:04 of the second period at even strength.
- Fandel scored his first of the year at 16:49 of the third period at even strength.
- Fletcher netted his first of the season at 17:06 of the third period at even strength.
- Plante tallied his second of the year at 18:39 of the third period with an extra attacker.
- Meerman sealed the win with his first of the season at 0:20 of overtime at even strength.
Up Next
After the thrilling victory, Augustana stays home to host the Puck Drop Block Party, presented by First PREMIER Bank / PREMIER Bankcard, on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 3-5 p.m. outside Midco Arena! Before the Vikings hit the ice for Saturday's matchup against Minnesota Duluth, fans can gear up for the action with food trucks, a beer garden, a live DJ, yard games, inflatables, a fan raffle, and more.
– GoAugie.com –
