Auyeung-Ashton made 30 saves for the Wildcats
MARQUETTE, Mich. — After a scoreless first period of action, the Vikings scored a goal in the second and third periods before adding the empty net goal for a 3-0 decision from the Berry Events Center.
The Wildcats (1-22-0, 1-14-0 CCHA) and Vikings skated to a scoreless first twenty minutes, but it was not without its exciting moments, highlighted by Matthew Argentina hitting the post on the opening shift of the game and netminder Oliver Auyeung-Ashton making a crucial save on a partial breakaway. The Vikings held a 12-8 shot advantage and a 9-5 advantage in the faceoff circle.
The Vikings (13-6-3, 7-4-2 CCHA) opened the scoring in the middle frame while on the power play, capitalizing on a deflection in the high slot from the stick of Brett Meerman, scoring his eighth goal of the season.
Shortly after the media timeout in the third period, sophomore Samo Meritahti converted on a one-timer off a pass from Ben Troumbly to give the Vikings a 2-0 lead on Meritahti’s second career collegiate goal. Joey DelGreco added the VIkings third tally into the empty net, and the Vikings would skate away with a 3-0 victory.
Wildcat netminder Oliver Auyeung-Ashton made 30 stops, posting a .928 SV%. Tobias Pitka won nine of his 15 faceoffs, the most wins among skaters in the game, and both Zane Demsey and Danny Ciccarello blocked two shots.
How It Happened
The Vikings converted on its second man-advantage of the evening, as Meerman camped out in the high slot and deflected a shot-pass from defenseman Owen Baumgartner. The deflection snuck under the arm of Auyeung-Ashton, and the rolling puck trickled over the goal line.
Callum Gau rushed down the right wing and drove into the far corner in the Wildcat end. Troumbly picked up the loose puck, circled the net, and found an unattended Meritahti, who whistled a one-timer past the ear of Auyeung-Ashton.
Owen Bohn forced a Wildcat turnover in the neutral zone, Colton Friesen wired the puck into the Wildcat end, and DelGreco scored into the empty net.
Up Next
Game two of the weekend series between these two comes tomorrow night at 6:07 p.m. ET from the Berry Events Center.
