St. Norbert Rally Not Enough in Loss to Augsburg

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, December 7, 2018 | Men's Hockey
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

MINNEAPOLIS - St. Norbert College rallied from a three-goal deficit to force overtime but ended up losing a tough 6-5 overtime decision to Augsburg University in a non-conference game at Augsburg Ice Arena.

The Green Knights (8-3-1), ranked No. 3 in the USCHO.com Division III Poll, trailed 5-2 in the second period before forcing overtime with the last three goals of regulation. But Augsburg (9-1-1), ranked No. 9 by USCHO.com, got the overtime game-winning goal by Alex Rodriguez 1 minute 29 seconds into the extra session.

St. Norbert scored early with a goal by Tyler Andrews just 1:42 into the game, his first of the season. Augsburg answered with a goal by Rodriguez at 4:06. The Green Knights took a 2-1 lead on a Brad Pung goal at 10:22, his second of the year. The Auggies would pull even when Tommy Carey scored at 17:58 for a 2-2 score heading into intermission.

Augsburg blitzed the Green Knights early in the second period, scoring 27 seconds into the frame on an Austin Martinsen goal. Patrick O'Connor made it 4-2 at the 3-minute mark, while Eric Brenk's goal at 13:28 put the Auggies up by three goals. St. Norbert would cut its deficit to 5-3 after two periods when Logan Froberg scored his first goal of the season with 1:52 left in the period.

St. Norbert scored a power-play goal when Timmy Nicksic registered his third goal of the season at 5:55 of the third period. The Green Knights were then assessed a five-minute major penalty 45 seconds later, but the Green Knights scored in the final minute of the penalty on an unassisted shorthanded goal by Dominick Sacco. His goal at 11:27 of the third period was his fifth of the season.

Two minutes later matching minor penalties gave the teams 1:01 of 4-on-4 time. The Green Knights then had a power-play chance starting at 14:23 but couldn't convert on the chance.

Sacco had two assists for a three-point game, while Brendon Gysbers had two assists for two points.

St. Norbert outshot Augsburg 43-32. The Green Knights were 1-for-3 on the power play, while the Auggies were 0-for-2. T.J. Black made 26 saves for St. Norbert, while Nick Schmit turned away 38 shots for the Auggies.