Colin Hernon scored two goals in Gustavus’s overtime win at Augsburg.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s hockey team escaped with a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory at Augsburg College on Saturday night to claim its first Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory of the season. The Gusties split the series with Augsburg and improve to 2-4-2 overall and 1-3 in the MIAC.
Gustavus got the scoring going six minutes into the game as Colin Hernon (So., Bloomington, Minn.) found the back of the net on assists from Van Sullivan (Fy., Brentwood, Tenn.) and Edvin Johansson (Fy., Vasteras, Sweden). It didn’t take much longer for Hernon to light the lamp again as he scored his second goal of the game and third of the season at the 9:37 mark. Sullivan tallied his second assist of the game on the play and the Gusties skated into the first intermission with a 2-0 advantage.
Neither team was able to score in the second period as Gustie goalie Chris Amsden (Fy., St. Peter, Minn.) fended off 14 Augsburg shots in the frame.
With Augsburg on the power play eight minutes into the third period, Tim Donohue (So., Bloomington, Minn.) scored an unassisted short-handed goal to give the Gusties a comfortable 3-0 advantage with 11:26 to play. The Auggies took the Gusties out of that comfort zone, though, with a short-handed goal of their own at the 14:21 mark, which sparked momentum for the home squad. With just over two minutes left on the clock, Augsburg made it a one-goal game and got the adrenaline going even more. The Auggies then pulled their goalie in the final minute of regulation and it paid off as they scored the equalizer with just nine seconds remaining in the game. Augsburg put on heavy offensive pressure in the third period with 19 shots.
In the overtime period, assistant captain Jared Docken (Jr., Northfield, Minn.) netted his first career game-winner just 1:57 in. Cam Jackson (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) and Donohue recorded the assists and the Gusties skated away with their first conference victory. Amsden collected his first collegiate victory in goal after registering 38 saves.
Augsburg nearly had twice as many shots as Gustavus at 41-21 and controlled the faceoffs with a 38-23 advantage.
The Gusties host their final home game of the calendar year next Friday against Saint John’s University. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. at Don Roberts Ice Rink.
Way to go Gusties!!!