Vikings shoot down Auggies with overtime shutout

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Matt Hughes’ overtime goal lifted the Lawrence University hockey team to a 1-0 nonconference victory over Augsburg College on Saturday at Ed Saugestad Rink.

Hughes’ goal, his team-high ninth of the season, came 2:40 into the five-minute overtime off assists from Brad Scurfield and Erik Soderlund.

Lawrence (5-5-3) had been on the power play in the overtime period when Augsburg’s Ben McClellan got sent off for slashing at 1:48. The man-advantage lasted only 13 seconds when Paul Zuke was whistled for interference.

The Vikings kept up the pressure with a shot by Hughes blocked by a defenseman and a Soderlund saved by the goaltender. Hughes then regained control of the puck and beat Justin Lochner for the only goal of the game.

Lawrence freshman goaltender Peter Emery picked up the first shutout of his career by making 40 saves. Lochner stopped 30 shots for Augsburg (4-7-0).

This was Lawrence fourth overtime game of the season with the previous three all ending in ties. This was Lawrence’s first win in an overtime game since a 4-3 win over Finlandia University on Jan. 16, 2010. Lawrence is 2-1-5 in the eight overtime games dating back to the win over Finlandia.

Lawrence returns to action next weekend when it travels to the 2011 NCAA runner-up, Adrian College.

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