BLAINE, Minn. – Alex Rodriguez scored all three goals for No. 11/12 Augsburg University as the Auggies defeated the St. Olaf College men's hockey team, 3-0, in the season opener for both teams at the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Men's Hockey Showcase on Friday evening at Schwan Super Rink.

With the score locked at 0-0, Rodriguez opened the scoring at 8:05 of the second period before tacking on a pair of third-period goals for Augsburg (1-0-0). The Auggies outshot St. Olaf (0-1-0) by a 28-21 margin in the game that saw both teams kill off all three penalties they committed.

Junior goaltender Noah Parker made 12 of his career-high-tying 25 saves on the night in the first period to keep the game scoreless, as Augsburg held a 12-4 advantage in shots in the opening 20 minutes. After a couple more saves by Parker to start the second, Rodriguez scored from Chandler Madry and Matt Hines at 8:05 of the second to break the deadlock.

With St. Olaf in search of a tying goal, Rodriguez doubled the Auggies' lead with 4:33 left in the third before tacking on an empty-net goal with three seconds to go to complete his hat trick. Lucas Niezelski provided an assist on Rodriguez's second goal, while Matt Nehls earned a helper on the empty-netter.

Daniil Gerasimov made 17 saves for Augsburg to pick up the win after coming in in relief of Nick Schmitt for the final 49:22 of the game. Schmitt made four saves in the early stages for the Auggies.

After a day off, St. Olaf completes its showing at the MIAC Men's Hockey Showcase on Sunday, Oct. 28 against Hamline University at Schwan Super Rink.