Augustine’s Season-Best 41 Saves Push Spartans to Regional Final

Thursday, March 26

Worcester, Mass.

1:30 PM

Michigan State University

26-8-2

UConn

20-13-5

UConn

Michigan St.

Photo by: Michael Caples

Augustine’s Season-Best 41 Saves Push Spartans to Regional Final

3/26/2026 6:56:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

WORCESTER, Mass. – No. 3-seeded Michigan State hockey needed junior goaltender Trey Augustine to be at his best on Thursday afternoon, and he delivered. Augustine made a season-best 41 saves in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to help MSU topple UConn, 2-1, from the DCU Center, advancing the Spartans to the regional final.

"I thought UConn was really good," Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale said. "I thought they were the better team. We've been on other side of it where it felt that way and we've lost. I thought Trey (Augustine) was the best player on the ice by a country mile. I have a ton of respect for how hard they (UConn) played.

Michigan State improves to 26-8-2 overall while UConn's season comes to a close at 20-13-5. The Spartans will face either Dartmouth or Wisconsin on Saturday night for the right to play in the Frozen Four.

MSU was out-shot 42-22 but won the faceoff battle 35-25 due in part to a 17-9 performance by senior forward Charlie Stramel on the dot. Special teams were key to Thursday's victory as Michigan State went 5-for-5 on the penalty kill and 1-for-2 on the power play.

Augustine played every bit like a Hobey Baker Award finalist making a season-high 41 saves, including 17 in the first period alone. It was the most saves by Augustine since his freshman season when he had 44 against Wisconsin on March 1, 2024.

Big save from Trey on the penalty kill late in the first period!

Watch now on ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/nxpnvYtVDm
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) March 26, 2026

Freshman forwards Porter Martone and Ryker Lee did the scoring for Michigan State, with Martone netting the game-winning goal in the second period, his 25th of the season. Martone moves within two goals of Rod Brind'Amour's program freshman record of 27 set in 1988-89. Senior defenseman Matt Basgall, senior forward Tiernan Shoudy and Martone tallied assists.

How It Happened
It was an odd start to Thursday's game after the teams were sent back to their respective dressing rooms prior to starting lineup announcements due to a plexiglass issue at the DCU Center. Following a 20 minute delay in the action teams were welcomed back to the ice to officially kick off the NCAA Tournament.

Michigan State successfully killed a pair of Huskies power plays in the first 15 minutes of the period, but UConn broke through first scoring off a rebounded shot at 15:27 to lead 1-0.

After a big save by Augustine thwarted a third UConn power play, Lee came through with the game-tying goal on a Spartan power play at the 18:56 mark. Lee was backchecked at the blue line before taking the puck into the crease, toe-dragging and flicking the puck over the head of UConn's goaltender.

The most entertaining man in college hockey!

Ryker Lee ties it up at 1-1 on the power play!

Tune in now on ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/Me6tqv0k78
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) March 26, 2026

MSU was granted an early chance to take a lead in the second period when senior forward Daniel Russell was given a penalty shot attempt at the 6:01 mark. Russell had a shorthanded breakaway opportunity but was hooked approaching the net resulting in the penalty shot. Russell's shot was saved by the UConn goaltender.

With the teams playing 4-on-4 just past the mid-way point of the second, a forechecking Martone took advantage of a UConn turnover in their own defensive zone. Martone swung a pass out to Shoudy whose quick pass back to Martone gave Michigan State the 2-1 lead on a one-timer from the left circle.

Porter Martone takes advantage of the UConn turnover and scores his 25th of the season to give us a 2-1 lead!

Tune in now on ESPN2! pic.twitter.com/MOaqrZWtuO
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) March 26, 2026

Michigan State searched for an insurance goal throughout the third period but was held scoreless on its lone power play. UConn put the pressure on late, pulling its goaltender with 2:10 to play in regulation. The Huskies managed just one shot on goal during the 6-on-5 advantage, but it was saved in the crease by Augustine with three seconds to play.