Wildcats hockey marks progress with home split
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MARQUETTE -- Progress can be measured in respect for the Northern Michigan University hockey team, with the Wildcats holding their own after a split with league foe Minnesota State-Mankato over the weekend.
Playing at its home Berry Events Center, NMU won 2-1 for its first conference victory this season before suffering a 3-0 setback on Saturday.
Northern moved to 3-7 overall and 1-3 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, now in a tie with Lake Superior State for seventh place.
With all eight CCHA teams having played four conference games, the Wildcats are also just one point behind sixth-place Ferris State, two points behind fifth-place Bemidji State, and three points in arrears to Mankato, which is in fourth at 3-5-2 overall and 1-1-2 in league encounters.
"When we are on the same page, we can be a tough team to play against," Northern assistant coach Chris Kamal said in an NMU Sports Information news release detailing Friday's game. "The guys did a great job staying together, obviously some timely saves from (goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton). It was great to see our team complete the 60 (minutes) there."
The Wildcats play two more series before taking the weekend immediately following
Northern Michigan University's Grayden Slipec, front right, has great concentration as he strikes an airborne puck for a shot on Minnesota State-Mankato goalie Lassi Lehti, left, during their CCHA game played at the Berry Events Center in Marquette on Friday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
Here are details from the Mankato series:
NMU 2, Mankato 1
On Friday evening, Northern took the lead twice, with the second time coming early in the third period and sticking for the victory.
Auyeung-Ashton, in his return after missing the previous weekend's series at Augustana, stopped 35 of the 36 shots that came his way, a .972 saves percentage. That included making 15 of 16 saves in the second period and all 13 in the third.
His skaters made that effort mean something, first when sophomore defenseman Ian Engel scored not long before the midpoint of the first period after a steal of the puck by sophomore forward Reilley Kotai near the Mankato net was slid over to a waiting Engel.
After the Mavericks scored the only goal of period No. 2 with just under six minutes remaining by Easton Hewson on a power play, NMU retook the lead with 15:49 remaining.
Senior forward Branden Piku, elevated to be an alternate captain barely a week earlier, scored in transition with freshman forward Coster Dunn and junior defenseman Noah Houle getting assists.
Dunn moved the puck up the right side before dumping it back to Piku, who was flying in for a one-timer in the slot, according to NMU SI.
"I thought that was a really nice play from Dunn to Piku," Kamal said. "That was a highlight-reeler."
For the night, Mankato held a 36-30 edge in shots on goal even as NMU won the faceoff battle 29-26.
Prior to those goals, both teams' defenses blocked multiple shots before either goaltender -- Auyeung-Ashton and Mavericks counterpart Lassi Lehti -- were called on to make a save.
Kotai had been a pest before his pass for Engel's score, not allowing Mankato to break out of its zone even while he couldn't get his own shot on net.
Each team had a power play chance in the opening period.
The Mavericks made several attempts to score the game-winner, including pulling Lehti with about 1:20 to go, but the Wildcats blueliners and Auyeung-Ashton held firm to preserve the victory.
Mankato 3, NMU 0
On Saturday evening, it was another night of one goal being scored in each period, except this time they were all by the Mavericks.
Mankato held a small 27-23 edge in shots on goal, with Auyeung-Ashton stopping 24 shots and the final Mavs' goal into an empty net with 1:57 remaining.
When the game was still scoreless, Northern had a power play but couldn't capitalize despite several looks by the previous weekend's lone goal scorer, Merril Steenari.
Mankato got its first goal with 8:54 left in the opening period when Sam Kappell scored his first career goal, but Auyeung-Ashton prevented further damage when the Mavericks went on a power play just 35 seconds later.
The Wildcats almost got through the entire second period with just the one-goal deficit, but Mankato instead used a 4-on-2 rush during an NMU penalty kill for an Alex Zetterberg goal 1:58 before intermission.
Northern made multiple runs at cutting into the deficit, with two power plays and several quality chances, including by Houle and junior forward Grayden Slipec. At one point, the Wildcats had 10 consecutive shots on goal and 21 shots overall, but still couldn't solve Lehti.
Liam Watkins scored Mankato's empty-netter in the final two minutes.
NMU 2, Mankato 1
Friday at Berry Events Center
Summary:
First period -- 1. NMU, Ian Engel (Kotai) 8:16
Second period -- 2. MAN, Easton Hewson (Conrad, Christ) ppg 14:08
Third period -- 3. NMU, Branden Piku (Houle, Dunn) 4:11
Penalties-minutes: Minn St.-Mankato 3-6, NMU 3-6
Power-play opportunities: Minn St.-Mankato 1 of 3, NMU 0 of 3
Goalie saves: Minn. St.-Mankato, Lassi Lehti 28 (6-14-8); NMU, Oliver Auyeung-Ashton 35 (7-15-13)
Mankato 3, NMU 0
Saturday at Berry Events Center
Summary:
First period -- 1. MAN, Sam Kappell (Morich, Skahan) 11:06
Second period -- 2. MAN, Alex Zetterberg (Kraft, Benincasa) ppg 1:58
Third period -- 3. MAN, Liam Watkins (Williams) eng 18:03
Penalties-minutes: Minn St.-Mankato 5-10, NMU 5-10
Power-play opportunities: Minn St.-Mankato 1 of 3, NMU 0 of 3
Goalie saves: Minn. St.-Mankato, Lassi Lehti 23 (5-12-6); NMU, Oliver Auyeung-Ashton 24 (10-10-4)
Story contents based on a pair of Northern Michigan University Sports Information press releases reviewing the games. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee's email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.