ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Augustana jumped out to a 10-1 halftime lead Saturday and cruised to a 15-7 win over the University of Northwestern at Thorson-Lucken Field. Coach Dan Torie's outfit improved to 2-1 heading into a St. Patrick's Day date at Milwaukee School of Engineering. The visiting Eagles dropped to 0-2 on the year.
 
Bob Robertson (York HS, Elmhurst, Ill.) scored the game's first goal just a minute and a half in with an assist from Shane Forsythe (Maine South HS, Park Ridge, Ill.). Mark Teschke (Sandburg HS, Orland Park, Ill.) and Steve Robertson (York HS, Elmhurst, Ill.) got in the scoring act and then Teschke assisted on the first of two Trever Moore (Naperville Central HS, Naperville, Ill.) goals as Augustana led 5-0 after one quarter.
 
Forsythe and freshman Elijah Graesser (Wauwatosa West HS, Milwaukee, Ill.) scored in the first three minutes of the second period before Noah Vander Kooi got Northwestern on the board at the seven-minute mark. The Vikings tallied the last three goals of the quarter to go up 10-1 at the half. Bob Robertson and Matteo Uccelli (Gulliver Prep, Miami, Fla.) each parlayed a Forsythe assist into a score, with freshman Carson Ghys (Warren HS, Gurnee, Ill.) sandwiching an unassisted goal in between.
 
The Eagles started the second half with a spark, getting goals from Mat Anderson, Joseph Will and Vander Kooi in the first 5½ minutes to trim the deficit to 10-4. Jack Preston (Morton HS, Morton, Ill.) scored with two minutes left in the third quarter, but Chase Marlenee's goal a minute later made it 11-5 and Vander Kooi scored to open the fourth, as the Eagles pulled as close (11-6) as they'd been since early in the second quarter.
 
The hosts responded however, getting goals from Uccelli, Moore, Forsythe and Dylan Drawer (Conant HS, Roselle, Ill.) over the final 12:04, while Northwestern added only Vander Kooi's fourth of the game.
 
Moore led Torie's squad with three goals, while Forsythe came off the bench for two goals and three assists. Uccelli and Bob Robertson scored twice as well. Matt Pierson (Montini HS, Downers Grove, Ill.) led the Vikings with seven ground balls and four caused turnovers and Cameron Duffy (Glenbrook South HS, Glenview, Ill.) recorded 10 saves in goal.
 
In addition to Vander Kooi's four goals, the Eagles got 15 ground balls and a 16-for-23 faceoff performance from Anderson. Goalie Christoph Tisdale logged 14 saves.