Viking Hockey sweeps No. 12 Omaha

OMAHA, Neb. (Augustana) -– The Augustana hockey team swept No. 12 Omaha on Saturday night by a score of 4-0 inside Baxter Arena. The Vikings’ win marked a historic moment in Augustana hockey history with its first-ever ranked weekend sweep on the road. Luke Mobley , Quinn Rudrud , Brett Meerman and Payton Matsui netted goals in the affair. Josh Kotai earned his second shutout of the season with 33 saves.

Augustana found the back of the net midway through the first period as Mobley was tripped on a breakaway attempt and awarded a penalty shot. Mobley made the most of the opportunity and netted his fourth goal of the season. Augustana dominated puck possession throughout the remainder of the first frame and skated into the locker room with a one-goal lead.

Augustana’s momentum continued into the second period as Rudrud ripped in his first of the season from the top of the circle 59 seconds into play. Meerman pushed the Vikings lead to three with his first of the season off a back-door tap-in off a shot from Hayden Hennen .

In a penalty-filled start to the third period, Augustana prevailed as Matsui netted his first goal of the season off passes from Will Howard and Drotts. Augustana kept its foot on the pedal and pulled away with a 4-0 win.

Game Moments

• Easton Young and Garett Drotts recorded their first collegiate points in Saturday’s win.
• Kotai recorded his second shutout of the season after he made 33 saves.
• Mobley tallied his fourth goal in four games.
• Brady Ziemer soaked a game-high three shots. Augustana blocked 15 shots to Omaha’s 10.
• The Vikings scored two even-strength goals.
• Nine Vikings tallied points.

Goals

• Mobley was awarded a penalty shot midway through the first period after he was tripped up on a breakaway. Mobley fired in the rubber past the Maverick goalie to record his fourth goal in four games.
• Rudurd extended the lead for Augustana with a shot from the top of the circle for his first of the season. Young collected his first career point with the primary assist.
• Meerman recorded his first goal of the season with a tap-in backdoor off a shot from H. Hennen. Owen Bohn tallied the secondary assist.
• Payton Matsui added his name to the scoresheet with his first goal of the season. Howard recorded the primary assist and Drotts tallied his first career point with the secondary assist.

Up Next
Augustana looks to keep its momentum rolling as it continues its time on the road with a weekend series against NCHC opponent St. Cloud State. It will be the first meeting between the two programs. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25 and 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26.

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