Women's Soccer 10/19/08 -- Augsburg 3, Clarke (Iowa) 1
GAME BOXSCORE | AUGSBURG SEASON STATISTICS
MINNEAPOLIS (10/19/08) -- Lacey Hoover (SO, Duluth, Minn./Central HS) claimed her first collegiate multi-goal game with a three-goal hat trick, and Maggie DeGroot (SR, Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West HS) became Augsburg College's goalkeeper career victory leader, as the Auggies scored a 3-1 victory over Clarke College (Iowa) in a nonconference women's soccer game on Sunday afternoon at Augsburg's Edor Nelson Field.
Hoover scored goals in the second, 25th and 90th minutes for Augsburg (9-2-4 overall), which outshot Clarke (6-9-1 overall) by a 20-13 margin. Whitney Holman (JR, New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS) had two assists for the Auggies.
With four saves in a winning effort, DeGroot broke Augsburg's goalkeeper career victory record with her 36th career win, breaking the old mark of 35 set by Laura Hoffman (2000-03, 35-23-5). DeGroot is one of three goalkeepers to have 30 or more career wins in the 24-year history of the Auggie women's soccer program; Beth Petrik (1995-98) had 34 wins in her career. DeGroot now holds every career goalkeeping record at Augsburg; she also currently holds records for career goals-against-average (0.66), shutouts (35) and winning percentage (.638).
"I'm really proud of Maggie. She has had an outstanding career at Augsburg, and this is a well-deserved honor," said Augsburg head coach Mike Navarre.
Augsburg jumped on the scoreboard just two minutes into the game, as Hoover scored off a corner kick by Holman. The kick was headed into the air by Lisa Weniger (So, Eagan, Minn./School of Environmental Studies HS), and Hoover headed the free ball into the net. Hoover added her second goal in the 25th minute, taking a long pass from Holman and sprinting to the goal. Kelsey Watsabaugh (SR, Eden Prairie, Minn./Hopkins HS) was also credited with an assist.
With 19 seconds left in the game, Hoover completed her hat trick with another goal off a corner kick, heading the ball in the net off a scramble in front. Gaby Hamerlinck (SO, St. Paul, Minn./Highland Park HS) received an assist on the final goal.
"This was a good win for us today. We had an opportunity to play a lot of players and generate some confidence as we prepare for the playoff stretch run," Navarre said. "I was excited for Lacey today. She has been working hard and got some well-deserved goals."
Clarke scored its lone goal in the 72nd minute, as Lindy Stauffer (JR, Hyrun, Utah/Mountain Crest HS) lofted a long shot from 30 yards out on the right side, which carried over DeGroot and into the upper left corner of the net. Beth Sherer (FY, Spring Hill, Iowa/Norwalk Community HS) assisted on Stauffer's goal.
Mary Lager (JR, Rapid City, S.D./Rapid City Central HS) started in goal for the Crusaders and made two saves in the first half. Katie Schmidt (SO, Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East HS) relieved her in the second half and had five saves.
Augsburg returns to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with an important home game against Carleton on Wednesday (10/22) at 7:30 p.m. at Edor Nelson Field, beginning the push to qualify for the four-team conference postseason playoffs for the fifth straight year. Augsburg, Carleton, Concordia-Moorhead and St. Benedict are all tied for second place in the conference standings with 12 league points, behind St. Thomas, which has already clinched one of the four conference postseason playoff berths with 16 league points. Augsburg also hosts St. Benedict next Saturday (10/25) and finishes the regular season with a game at Macalester, which has 10 league points, on Oct. 31.
"This week is huge with games against Carleton and St. Benedict, two teams that we are tied with for second place," Navarre said. "Carleton is a solid team, which will be ready to play on Wednesday. Fortunately, I know we will be ready too."
