UND Athletics/Russell Hons
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND Athletics)– No. 5/6 North Dakota dropped a 4-1 decision to Augustana in exhibition play on Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd of 11,667 at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D.
Augustana potted two goals in the opening period to build a 2-0 lead at the first intermission before adding a goal last in the middle stanza and a power play tally early in the third to grow the advantage to 4-0. Cameron Berg got the hosts on the board with a power play strike of his own near the midway mark of the stanza, but that was as close as UND would get as the Fighting Hawks dropped their first preseason exhibition contest since 1996-97.
T.J. Semptimphelter made his first appearance in a UND uniform between the pipes, finishing with 15 saves on 18 shots against in 40 minutes of action. Junior Kaleb Johnson played the final period for NoDak, making four saves on five shots against.
North Dakota will open the regular season next Saturday night against Providence in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game from the Ralph.
Postgame Notes
- Saturday’s contest was the first meeting (regular season or exhibition) between the two programs
- Brett Meerman scored two goals for Augustana in the win and was named the game’s first star
- Cameron Berg struck on the power play in the third period for UND’s lone goal
- NoDak finished with a 29-23 shot advantage
- 25 of the 26 players on the roster for UND played
- The Vikings went 1-for-2 on the power play while UND was 1-for-3
- Augustana finished with a 20-18 advantage in the dot, with Carter Wilkie pacing UND at 7-4
- UND suffered its first loss in a preseason exhibition since 1996-97
How It Happened
First Period
02:20 | AU – Brett Meerman from Will Svenddal and Simon Falk
10:42 | AU – Nace Langus from Tyler Hennen
Second Period
17:05 | AU – Quinn Rudrud from Payton Matsui and Colton Friesen
Third Period
03:41 | AU – Meerman from Luke Mobley and Matusi
09:41 | UND – Cameron Berg from Jake Livanavage and Owen McLaughlin
