Anderson named MVP of the two-game total goal series
HOUGHTON, Mich. – No. 20 Michigan Tech swept No. 16 Augustana after a 4-3 victory on Winter Carnival Saturday night. The Huskies won the MacInnes Trophy in the total goal series and picked up their 20th win of the season.
Jack Anderson was named Winter Carnival MVP as he scored the game-winning goal 10:33 into the third period for his second goal of the weekend.
Tech is now 20-10-2 overall and in second place in the CCHA standings with a 15-5-2 conference record. The Huskies trail No. 15 St. Thomas by two points with four games left in the regular season.
“It was another good game against a quality opponent. They were very opportunistic on their goals, but we did a really good job getting traffic in front of their goaltender on our chances tonight,” Tech coach Bill Muckalt said. “These points are huge. We just have to keep taking care of business with four games left.
“Jack works so hard and puts so much in to his game. He’s taking huge strides and is getting a lot of deserved individual honors right now. I’m proud of him.”
Augustana (18-9-3, 12-7-2 CCHA) held three different leads in the game. Brett Meerman got the Vikings on the board 7:55 after the initial faceoff on a breakaway.
Michael Cicek tied the game for the Huskies at 11:21 of the first with a rebound goal from Lauri Raiman and Kalem Parker. It was Cicek’s second goal of the season.
Brett Meerman gave the visitors their lead back 68 seconds later on the power play.
Matthew Van Blaricom redirected in a pass from Jack Anderson 9:33 into the second to even it back up. Van Blaricom’s second of the season was also assisted by Tom Leppa.
Augustana quickly responded again when Carter Theissen found the back of the net 56 seconds later.
Luca Fasciano knotted the game up at three with a blast from the point with 4:22 left in the second period. His fourth goal of the season was assisted by Max Koskipirtti and Tyler Miller.
The game winner was scored when Max Koskipirtti won an offensive zone faceoff back to Anderson. He quickly gathered and wristed in his eighth of the season to put the sold-out crowd into a frenzy.
Augustana added the extra attacker with 1:37 left, but only managed one shot on goal.
Owen Bartoszkiewicz made 17 saves for the Huskies and won his nation-leading 20th game of the season. Josh Kotai stopped 31 shots for the Vikings.
The children of John and Jerry MacInnes, Scott and Patti, presented the Huskies with the MacInnes Trophy.
Winter Carnival Royal Majesty Ramie Sussex presented Jack Anderson with the MVP award.
Tech travels to Lake Superior State next weekend for the final road series of the regular season. It is the only meeting with the Lakers this season.
