Michigan State rallies past Western Michigan in OT in regional hockey semifinal at Centene

But the talented freshman netminder was more excited about recording the first assists of his college career.

“I felt good,” Augustine said.

That’s because it came at the perfect time.

Augustine’s pass set up Jeremy Davidson’s overtime goal as Michigan State outlasted Western Michigan 5-4 in a semifinal game of the NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Maryland Heights Regional at Centene Community Ice Center.

Michigan State (25-9-3), making its first sweet 16 appearance since 2012, will face Michigan in the regional final at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

The winner of Sunday’s game advances to the Frozen Four beginning April 11 in St. Paul.

Augustine turned in several highlight-reel efforts when the Spartans trailed 4-2 early in the third period.

His teammates thanked him for the performance by rallying with two goals over the closing 11:45 of the third period to send the tightly played contest into an extra session.

Davidson scored from a bad angle 8 minutes and 47 seconds into overtime to cap a late rally.

Augustine, who made 34 saves, began the play by shipping the puck to Nash Nienhuis, who found Davidson on the right wing. Davidson threw the puck on the net from a sharp angle off the faceoff circle and it bounced off the stick of goalie Cameron Rowe and into the net.

A native of South Lyon, Michigan, Augustine joked with coach Adam Nightingale about his new-found assist skills.

“It was a great play and he let me know it right after it,” said Nightingale, who is in his second season at East Lansing. “Now, he wants to be on the power play.

Michigan State freshman forward Gavin O’Connell thought that sounded like a good idea.

“(Augustine’s) a big boy, he could do some damage in front of the net,” O’Connell said.

Davidson’s goal ended an intense three-hour match that had numerous twists and turns.

Western Michigan, which came into the game with 15 losses, the most of any team remaining, scored three times in span of just four minutes late in the second period to take a 4-2 lead.

Zak Galambos capped off the blitz by converting right from a…