Women's Hockey 1/24/03 -- Augsburg 4, Hamline 0

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MINNEAPOLIS (1/24/03) -- Claiming a 48-6 advantage in shots on goal, Augsburg College dominated play to claim its second straight shutout, blanking Hamline University 4-0 in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's hockey game Saturday night at the Augsburg Ice Arena.

Kristin Johnson (So., Minnetonka, Minn./Wayzata HS) didn't have to make many saves, but stopped all six shots she faced to earn her third career shutout and Augsburg's fifth shutout victory of the season.

Augsburg improved to 9-9-1 overall and 7-5-0 in MIAC play with the shutout, Augsburg's second straight 4-0 blanking of Hamline for the series sweep. The Pipers dropped their sixth game in a row to fall to 2-15-1 overall, 0-12-0 in MIAC play. Hamline has been shut out seven times this season.

Augsburg was dominant all night long, not allowing a Hamline shot until eight minutes into the second period, after Augsburg had put 20 shots on net against Hamline goalie Rachael Young (Fr., Buffalo, Minn.). Hamline had just one shot through two periods of play, adding five shots in the final period. Young ended up with 44 saves.

Augsburg's top line of Lauren Chezick (So., Hastings, Minn.), Annie Annunziato (Jr., Commack, N.Y.) and Carrie Velenchenko (So., Maple Grove, Minn.) accounted for three of Augsburg's four goals on the night. The trio now has 41 of Augsburg's 64 goals this year (64.0 percent) and 94 of Augsburg's 158 total points (59.5 percent).

Chezick had a goal and two assists, Annunziato had a goal and assist and Velenchenko scored a goal. Chezick now leads the team with 38 points, while Annunziato has 37 points. Velenchenko is third in scoring with 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists).

Laura Prasek (So., Fridley, Minn.) opened the scoring for the Auggies at the 4:06 mark of the game, notching her first collegiate goal on an unassisted steal and score.

Just 1:47 later, Annunziato pocketed her 16th goal year on feeds from Chezick and Melynda Kleewein (So., Anchorage, Alaska/Dimond HS).

Chezick scored her team-high 18th goal of the year on feeds from Annunziato and Kleewein at the 17:53 mark of the second period, and Velenchenko put the icing on the cake at the 8:27 mark of the third, scoring on feeds from Chezick and Prasek.

After starting the season 0-5, Augsburg has an 8-4-1 record over its last 13 games to move into MIAC playoff contention.

Augsburg has next weekend off, returning to action Feb. 7-8 with a two-game MIAC series at Concordia-Moorhead. Game times are 7:05 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7 and 2:05 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8. Hamline returns to MIAC action next weekend with a series against St. Olaf, with Friday's (1/31) game at the State Fair Coliseum at 7 p.m., and Saturday's (2/1) game at St. Olaf at 7 p.m.