Game Summary

WINONA, Minn. — After watching his team battle from behind in dropping a 4-2 decision to Augsburg in their Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener Friday night, Saint Mary's University men's hockey coach Don Olson was hoping his team would get out of the gate a little quicker in the teams' rematch Saturday.

They did, scoring a minute into the first period and 33 seconds into the third.

A fast start, however, wasn't quite enough, as Augsburg's A.J. Hau scored at 2:12 of the third period to lift the Auggies to a 3-3 tie vs. the Cardinals at the SMU Ice Arena.

"Our two games (against Augsburg) were like night and day," said Olson. "We played probably our poorest game of the season on Friday night, and then turned around and played very well tonight. Unfortunately, we weren't able to come away with a win for the effort.

"This was a tough one to take," Olson said of the tie. "We got the lead early, let (Augsburg) back into the game, regained the lead, and then gave it up again. This is the kind of tie that feels a little bit like a loss."

Except for the fact that the Cardinals do leave the two-game conference series with a point.

"In this conference, every point is important, so the fact that we did get a point tonight is one way to look at it," said Olson. "We're still making way too many mistakes, and I know, with a young team, that's going to happen. But we've got to get to the point where we're not making the same mistakes over and over again — that's really what's hurting us right now."

David Gross (Grasston, Minn.) got the Cardinals on the board early, scoring his team-leading fifth goal of the season just 1:12 into the opening period, as he banged in a rebound off a shot by Jesse Polk (Hastings, Minn.). Mike Christensen (Detroit Lakes, Minn.) made it 2-0 seven minutes later, as the SMU freshman netted his first collegiate goal.

The Auggies cut the Cardinals' lead in half before the first period ended, then pulled even on Kellen Chamblee's goal midway through the second period. Adam Gill (Rochester, Minn.) put SMU back on top, 3-2, with his four of the season 33 seconds into the third period, but again the Auggies, responded, tying the game once again on Hau's fourth of the season.

"We had our chances, but so did they — especially late in the overtime when they were on the power play," said Olson, whose team falls to 0-1-1 in the MIAC and 1-4-1 overall. "I thought we did a lot of good things out there tonight. To bounce back after playing so poorly last night is a testament to the character of this team.

"Now all we've got to do is find a way to get a win or two for their efforts."