MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. -- Behind two goals from senior captain Corbin Chapman (SR, Burnsville, Minn.), including the game-winner with 5:45 left in the contest, the Augsburg College men's hockey team claimed the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference playoff championship and an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III national playoffs with a 3-2 victory at the University of St. Thomas on Saturday evening.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 3, St. Thomas 2
LOCATION: St. Thomas Ice Arena, Mendota Heights, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 17-4-6 overall, St. Thomas 14-8-5 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Chapman scored the first and last goals of the game for the Auggies -- a power-play marker at the 8:28 mark of the second period that tied the game at 1-1 from Nate Flynn (JR, Hastings, Minn.) and Rory Vesel (SR, Rochester, Minn./Lourdes HS), and the final goal of the game on a shot that deflected off the St. Thomas goalkeeper's glove and into the net the 14:15 mark of the third period, assisted by Eli May (JR, Eagan, Minn.).
• Trailing 2-1 after two periods, Max Pernhem (JR, Stockholm, Sweden/Dragonskolan) tied the game for the Auggies with an unassisted goal just 49 seconds into the third period.
• Nick Schmit (SO, Fargo, N.D./Fargo North HS) continued his impressive postseason run in goal for Augsburg, claiming 31 saves, including several point-blank saves on Tommie rushes, to improve to 10-1-2 on the season.
• St. Thomas outshot Augsburg by a 33-32 mark in the game. Chapman and Drew Anderson (JR, Rochester, Minn./Century HS) had five shots on-goal each for the Auggies, while Trevor Stewart (SR, Highlands Ranch, Colo./Eastmont HS) had four shots.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• Augsburg, the MIAC's regular-season champion, claimed the Ed Saugestad Cup MIAC playoff trophy, named for the legendary Augsburg coach and educator. Augsburg was the inaugural winner of the Saugestad Cup in the 1997-98 season and also hoisted the trophy last season.
• Augsburg will compete in its fourth NCAA Division III national tournament, previously competing in 1983-84, 1997-98 (fourth place) and last season. NCAA tournament bids will be announced on Monday (3/6) at 9:30 a.m. Central time on an NCAA.com webcast. 

FOR THE FOES
• Michael Dockry opened the scoring at the 3:06 mark of the second period with a goal from Tanner Barnes, and Brett Gravelle gave the Tommies a 2-1 lead with a power-play goal from Johnny Panvica and D.J. Jones at the 13:00 mark of the middle frame.
• Benjamin Meyers had 29 saves in goal for St. Thomas.