Men's Hockey 2/9/02 -- Augsburg 5, Bethel 4 

BOXSCORE

MINNEAPOLIS (2/9/02) -- Joe Johnson (Sr., Ramsey, Minn./Anoka HS) and Brad Keogh (Jr., Lake Shore, Minn./Mankato West HS) had a goal and assist each, leading Augsburg College to its seventh straight men's hockey win, a 5-4 win over Bethel College in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game Saturday night at the Augsburg Ice Arena.

Augsburg took a 3-0 first-period led and held a 5-2 advantage after two periods, then held on as Bethel scored two goals in the third period to make it a close game.

Augsburg is now 13-7-3 overall and 9-4-1 in MIAC play. Augsburg has an eight-game unbeaten streak (7-0-1) and is 8-1-2 in its last 11 games. Bethel drops to 6-17-0 and 2-12-0 in MIAC play, losing its fourth straight game.

Keogh, Jake Wegscheider (Sr., Little Canada, Minn./Roseville HS) and Patrick Hook (So., Monticello, Minn.) scored goals for the Auggies in the first 9:38 of the first period to give the Auggies a commanding lead.

But Bethel cut the lead with two goals in a 1:20 span in the second period, with David Vidmar (Sr., Chisholm, Minn./Hibbing HS) and Kris Birch (Fr., Brooklyn Park, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret HS) putting the puck past Augsburg goalie Peter Samargia (Jr., Gilbert, Minn./Eveleth-Gilbert HS).

Augsburg increased its advantage back to three goals with two goals in a 1:31 span late in the second frame, with Johnson and Joe Pontrelli (So., Eagan, Minn.) scoring.

Bethel cut the lead to one goals with two goals in the first 3:41 of the third period. Josh Hauge (Jr., Rosemount, Minn.) scored an unassisted goal, then Bryan Peltier (So., Forest Lake, Minn.) scored. Augsburg held on to the one-goal advantage through the third period for the win, killing one power play.

Samargia made 27 saves to score the win, as Augsburg outshot Bethel aby a 37-31 margin. Jeff Hall (Sr., Edina, Minn.) made 32 saves in a losing effort.

Both teams complete the MIAC regular season with series next weekend. Augsburg faces conference-leader St. Thomas in a two-game series Friday (2/15) and Saturday (2/16), Friday's game at 7 p.m. at the Augsburg Ice Arena, and Saturday's game at 7 p.m. at the State Fair Coliseum. Bethel closes its season with a series against St. John's, with Thursday's (2/14) game at 7 p.m. at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn., and Friday's game at 7 p.m. at the Columbia Ice Arena in Fridley, Minn.