Sat. March 7
Final Round
Augsburg 4, St. Thomas 2

Augsburg got goals from four different players, including a pair of short-handed goals, to advance to the NCAA Division III hockey playoffs with a 4-2 victory Saturday and a two-game sweep of St. Thomas in the MIAC playoff finals. The Auggies had won 5-4 in Fridays first game at Bloomington Ice Garden, rallying from a 3-0 deficit.

The Auggies (19-6-4), who gained the schools first NCAA hockey berth since 1984, are now 16-1-1 in their last 18 games. They were playing in the MIAC playoff finals for the first time in the 13 years of the format. Augsburg will play a best-of-two series in the NCAA quarterfinals next Friday and Saturday with the site and foe to be determined.

St. Thomas (20-7-2) has a remote chance of getting the West Regions fourth berth. Pairings will be announced Sunday.

St. Thomas broke to a 2-0 lead on first-period goals by Joe Lolich and Steve Aronson. Anthony Bosers late first-period goal made it 2-1. Joe Fehn added a short-handed goal in the second to tie it 2-2. Martin Hlinka scored a short-handed goal 30 seconds into the final period to put the Auggies ahead to stay. Trevor Tallackson added a power-play goal in the final minute.

Auggie freshman Ryan McIntosh continued his excellent play in net. He stopped 35 of 37 shots. Hes now 12-1-1 on the season. In his last seven games hes stopped 149-of-163 shots. Tavis Gillard stopped 21 of 25 shots for the Tommies, who outshot Augsburg 37-25.