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MINNEAPOLIS -- Joel Sauer (JR, Madison, Wis./Memorial HS) scored two goals and added an assist for a three-point night, as the Augsburg College men's hockey team overcame an early deficit to score a 4-1 win over St. Olaf College in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game on Friday night at the Augsburg Ice Arena.

In scoring its third straight win and fifth in its last seven games, Augsburg (14-7-1 overall, 7-5-1 MIAC) remained in pursuit of its second straight berth in the five-team MIAC postseason playoffs and third in the last four seasons. Augsburg now stands with 15 league points in fourth place, just a point behind St. Thomas for third. Hamline and Gustavus have already clinched berths in the MIAC postseason playoffs.

After St. Olaf (10-8-4 overall, 4-5-4 MIAC) scored a goal just 2:58 into the game, from Isak Tranvik (JR, Robbinsdale, Minn.), Sauer tied the game for the Auggies with a goal from Chris Johnson (SR, Verona, Wis./Madison Memorial HS) and Nick Guran (SO, McHenry, Ill./McHenry East HS) halfway through the second period.

A penalty shot, converted by Tedd Falk (SO, Mequon, Wis./Homestead HS), gave the Auggies the lead at the 15:48 mark of the second period, and Guran's power-play goal at the 5:09 mark of the third period, assisted by David Hines (SO, Sartell, Minn./St. Cloud Tech HS) and Sauer, gave the Auggies a 3-1 lead. The Auggies capped the scoring with an empty-net goal by Sauer, assisted by Hines, in the closing minute.

Augsburg outshot St. Olaf by a 32-18 margin, including a 23-13 margin in the final two periods. Justin Lochner (FY, Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice HS) scored the win in goal for the Auggies with 17 saves, while Nick Krauss (JR, Naperville, Ill.) took the loss for the Oles with 28 saves.

The teams complete the MIAC series on Saturday (2/13) at 7 p.m., at the Northfield Ice Arena.