Kaia Anderson, contributor

On Nov. 14, the Augsburg University women’s ice hockey team played against the Concordia Moorhead Cobbers at home. This game was the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) opener for both teams. The game ended with the Auggies defeating the Cobbers with a final score of 4-2.

The puck dropped at 7 p.m. sharp, with the Auggies winning the face-off. The first goal was made 8 minutes and 41 seconds into the first period by junior Emma Abrahamson, with an assist from sophomore Emma Brandenburger. Well into the first period, Concordia senior Memphis Mertens received a penalty for hooking, an ice hockey penalty where a player uses their stick to impede an opponent’s progress by pulling or tugging on them, often with the blade contacting the body, hands, or stick, resulting in the first power play of the evening. This led to a 1-0 score going into the second period.

The second period began with the Cobbers gaining control of the puck before it quickly fell into the hands of the Auggies. At 7:25, the Cobbers’ Kylie Huseth received a penalty for hooking. Augsburg’s senior Nora Stepan received a minor penalty for slashing, a hockey penalty where a player swings their stick at an opponent with excessive force, or chops their stick on an opponent’s body or stick, giving the Cobbers a player advantage. After briefly being back at full strength, sophomore Abby Simons was put in the penalty box for interference at 13:16. During this power play the Cobbers tied the game at 1-1 when Addie Moos scored her first collegiate goal with an assist from Morgan Sauvageau and Taylor Severson. At 14:29, sophomore Adelyn Milota received a minor penalty for checking, leading to another Cobber power play. Towards the very end of the second period, at 16:33, Augsburg’s bench received a penalty for having too many players on the ice. The penalty was served by sophomore Gaby Matson. Period two ended with a tied 1-1 score.

Period three began with the Auggies gaining control of the puck. Stepan scored a second goal for Augsburg in the opening minutes, with an assist from sophomore Ruby Eskin. Concordia’s Abbey Reule was put in the penalty box for cross-checking at 4:30. During the power play, Taylyn Cope scored for the Cobbers with an assist from Mertens at 7:29. The Auggies were able to pull ahead at 12:24 with a goal from junior Ella Olson with an assist from sophomore Lilli Wold and Eskin. The Auggies scored the final goal of the game at the halfway point into the third, with first year Payton Behr scoring her first collegiate goal. Assists came from Olson and Simons. 

The game ended 4-2, with goalkeeper, sophomore Kayla Simonson, having a total of 15 saves for Augsburg. The women’s ice hockey team plays next Dec. 5, at Gustavus Adolphus College.