Jaro Cesky and Andy Ness had a goal and assist each, and Ryan McIntosh came up with 28 saves in goal, to lead Augsburg College to a 5-4 victory over Concordia-Moorhead in a MIAC game Friday night at Augsburg Ice Arena.
Concordia, the defending MIAC playoff champion and current conference leader, dropped to 7-6-2 overall and 6-2-1 in the MIAC. Augsburg improved to 6-8-2 overall and 3-3-1 in the MIAC with the win.
Augsburg held a 5-2 lead after two periods, but had to hold on as Concordia scored twice in the final frame to cut the lead to 5-4. Concordia pulled goalie Bryan Howard in the closing two minutes, but could not put a shot past McIntosh with the extra attacker on the ice.
Tony Putt and Ness had goals for the Auggies in the first period, Ness’ coming on a power-play tally with 52 seconds left in the period. Augsburg made it 3-1 in the opening 16 seconds of the second period, when Joe Johnson found the net. Cesky scored at the 18:31 mark, and Tim Olsen notched his team-leading 11th goal of the season 46 seconds later.
Jay Schnell scored his first collegiate goal on an unassisted tally at the 3:18 mark of the first period for Concordia’s first goal, while Toby Schneider lit the lamp on a power-play goal at the 2:27 mark of the second frame.
Mark Schiller and Aaron Marsh scored goals for the Cobbers in the third period to make the game close.
Augsburg outshot Concordia by a 39-32 margin, as the two senior goalies, considered the top two netminders in the MIAC, were tested often. McIntosh made 28 saves and Howard made 34 saves.
The teams complete their MIAC series on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Augsburg Ice Arena.
