Dominick Ingram, Staff Writer

The Augsburg University women’s hockey team has completed their dominant regular season, finishing with a record of 20-5-0 (15-3-0 MIAC). The Auggies finished on a strong note, ending the regular season with 14 MIAC wins in a row. In order to cap this great feat, the Auggies claimed its first series sweep of the University of St. Thomas since the 1999-2000 season with their win last Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Auggies will finish as the No. 3 seed in the five-team MIAC postseason playoffs. 

The Auggies started down 1-0 early on, but quickly tied it at the 11:53 mark of the first period when Lanie Lobdell scored her second goal of the weekend and eighth of the season from a pass from behind the net by Mikayla Jones. During the 2nd period, the Auggies were able to pull away, taking the lead just 76 seconds into the second period, when Mikayla Jones scored a goal off of a steal by McKenna Ellena. Late in the 3rd period, the Auggies clinched the game as Nikki Nightengale scored her fourth goal of the year in the final minute of play. The Auggies were focused defensively, outshooting St. Thomas by a 42-15 margin, and only allowing 2 shots in the 3rd period. Annie Juergens had 14 saves for the Auggies in the win. 

This season was one to remember. This is the 2nd time in Augsburg’s history that the women’s hockey team has hit the 20 wins mark. This season, they had a program-best 15 wins in MIAC play, surpassing its 14-4-0 league record in 2016-17.

  No. 3-seed Augsburg will travel to face No. 2-seed Hamline (18-3-4 overall, 14-1-3 MIAC) in a semifinal contest on Saturday (2/29) at 2 p.m. at the TRIA Rink in St. Paul.