Three Goals in Final 20 Minutes Lift Augustana to 4-1 Win
The Vikings used a late surge to secure their seventh win of the season and extend their unbeaten streak in Division I men's hockey.
By Zoe Harrison ·
Suffolk County readers interested in college hockey may note a distinct shift in momentum during Saturday night’s contest at Midco Arena in Sioux Falls. The Augustana Vikings, who opened the College Hockey America season with a 12-0 victory, found themselves in a 1-1 tie after two periods against Northern Michigan. The outcome hinged on the final 20 minutes, a stretch in which Augustana outshot the Wildcats 19-7 and scored three unanswered goals.
The game’s decisive sequence began at 2:34 of the third period. Hunter Bischoff capitalized on a power play to give the Vikings a 2-1 lead. Less than a minute later, Landon Fandel added another goal to make it 3-1. Leo Bulgakov sealed the result with an empty-netter at the 17:45 mark. This late explosion allowed Augustana to finish the series against Northern Michigan with a 4-1 victory.
Prior to the third period, the contest was tightly contested. The first 20 minutes ended with no goals, as Northern Michigan employed a defensive strategy that clogged the net front. Augustana held a slight edge in shots during the first period, recording 11 attempts to Northern Michigan’s 10. In the second period, senior Cole Burtch broke the deadlock at 8:22. Joey DelGreco forced a turnover at the blue line and passed to Burtch, who shot past goaltender Max Weilandt.
Northern Michigan responded quickly. Merril Steenari collected a rebound and scored just before the power play ended at 9:25 to tie the game at 1-1. The Wildcats relied on Weilandt for the loss, who made 35 saves. On the other side of the ice, Augustana goaltender Mathis Langevin made 20 saves to claim his seventh win of the season. The Vikings dominated possession with 39 shots on goal compared to Northern Michigan’s 21.
Augustana now stands at 7-0-1 on the season. This record places them in exclusive company within Division I men’s hockey. They are one of only two undefeated teams remaining in the nation, with Wisconsin being the other. The Vikings converted one of four power play chances and stopped two of three penalties against them. DelGreco led the team in faceoffs, winning seven of 11 draws.
Northern Michigan entered the series finale with a 2-6 record. The Wildcats won 23 of 50 faceoffs, a 54 percent success rate. Despite the loss, the team managed to limit Augustana to fewer quality chances than in their opener, relying on a structured defensive approach that held the score level for 40 minutes.
The Vikings will resume play next weekend. They are scheduled to travel to Houghton, Michigan, to face Michigan Tech in the next College Hockey America series. The team will look to maintain their unbeaten start on the road.
Bulgakov led the Vikings with seven shots on goal. Burtch finished with a goal and an assist. Bischoff scored the game-winning goal. Fandel added the third goal of the night. The scoring line reflects a team effort that shifted the balance of power in the final period.
