Men's Hockey 11/17/01 -- Minnesota-Crookston 6, Augsburg 5 

BOXSCORE

MINNEAPOLIS (11/17/01) -- Matt Millar (So., El Segundo, Calif.) made 37 saves in net, and Levi Leis (Jr., Fargo, N.D.) scored two power-play goals in the second period, as the University of Minnesota-Crookston claimed a 6-5, upset victory over host Augsburg College in a nonconference men's hockey game Saturday afternoon at Augsburg Ice Arena.

The Golden Eagles gained a split of the weekend series and improved to 2-5-0 overall, while Augsburg dropped to 3-2-1 overall.

With Augsburg leading 3-2 early in the second period, the momentum of the game changed dramatically. Augsburg was called for six consecutive penalties in a two-minute, 34-second stretch, including a major penalty and game-disqualification penalty against Jaro Cesky (Jr., Prague, Czech Republic), who had scored two of Augsburg's three goals to that point. The Golden Eagles took advantage of the five power plays, connecting on three goals -- two from Leis and one from Aaron Bina (Sr., Grand Forks, N.D.) -- to take a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way.

After Crookston scored again in the third period, on a goal from Brock Anundson (Fr., Baudette, Minn.), the Auggies scored twice to make the game close at the end, with goals from Joe Johnson (Sr., Ramsey, Minn./Anoka HS) and Joe Pontrelli (So., Eagan, Minn.). Nick Murray (Sr., Bloomington, Minn./Holy Angels HS) had the other Auggie goal.

Ben Perkins (So., New Brighton, Minn.) scored the opening goal of the game for Crookston just 52 seconds into play. Jarrod Christianson (Jr., Ham Lake, Minn.) had the other Golden Eagle goal in the first period.

Perkins and Anundson had a goal and assist apiece, with Shawn Carlson (Fr., Two Harbors, Minn.) adding two assists. Murray had a goal and two assists to lead the Auggies, while Johnson had a goal and an assist.

Steffan Braunlich (Fr., Playa del Rey, Calif.), making his collegiate goaltending debut for the Auggies, made 36 saves in a losing effort.

Augsburg returns to action on Tuesday (11/20), hosting Wisconsin-Superior as part of a men's/women's hockey doubleheader at Augsburg Ice Arena. The women's game is at 4:05 p.m., with the men's game at 7 p.m. Minnesota-Crookston hosts Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Sunday (11/18) at 7:30 p.m. in Crookston.