Men's Soccer 10/25/08 -- Augsburg 0, St. John's 0 (2OT)
GAME BOXSCORE | AUGSBURG SEASON STATISTICS
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COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (10/25/08) -- Pascaul Venter (JR, Rochester, Minn./John Marshall HS) collected seven saves in goal in recording his fifth shutout of the season and 18th of his career, as Augsburg College clinched a berth in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference postseason playoffs for the second time in program history with a 0-0, two-overtime tie with St. John's University on Saturday afternoon at SJU's Durenberger Field.
With the draw, Augsburg (9-3-5 overall, 6-2-1 MIAC) remains in a third-place tie with St. Thomas (12-4-1 overall, 6-2-1 MIAC) in the league standings, as each have 13 points. Both clinched berths in the playoffs based on tiebreaker criteria. Despite St. John's (10-6-1 overall, 5-3-1 MIAC) being able to match both Augsburg's and St. Thomas' point totals if the Johnnies win and both Augsburg and St. John's lose in the regular-season finale next weekend, the Tommies clinched a playoff berth on the strength of having beaten both Augsburg and St. John's in regular-season play, and Augsburg has clinched a berth based on its 1-2 record against other playoff teams (St. John's is 0-3 against the other playoff teams). Carleton (14-1-1 overall, 7-1-1 MIAC, 15 points) and Gustavus (11-4-1 overall, 7-2-0 MIAC, 14 points) earlier clinched berths in the playoffs.
"A point was what we needed to qualify, and we got it," said Augsburg head coach Greg Holker. "Now we have to focus on defeating Macalester for the first time in our seniors' careers (and much longer), and let the chips fall as they may. We are playing some of our best soccer right now, but are still missing that final piece. I believe that is coming this week. Our guys are determined to extend this season as long as we can."
The MIAC has one final round of conference games, coming next Friday (10/31) and Saturday (11/1), with all four playoff teams having a mathematical shot of claiming at least a share of the regular-season title. Augsburg hosts Macalester on Friday at 7 p.m. at Edor Nelson Field, while St. Thomas travels to face Gustavus on Saturday at 1 p.m., and Carleton hosts St. Olaf on Saturday at 1 p.m.
"This has been the closest MIAC title chase I can remember with all four teams having a chance to win it all on the final day. The conference continues to improve from top to bottom, and that makes for exciting soccer every time we step on the field," Holker said.
Augsburg outshot St. John's by a 22-14 margin in the game, including a 3-2 edge in the 20 minutes of overtime. Van Hong (SO, St. Louis Park, Minn.) had four shots for the Auggies, while James See (SR, Richfield, Minn./Holy Angels HS), Andrew Seidel (SR, Woodbury, Minn.) and David Scheller (FY, Maple Grove, Minn.) had three shots each.
"Van Hong's work rate was admirable -- and I am hoping it becomes contagious with all of our front runners. He makes things happen," Holker said. "Alex Hildebrandt (JR, St. Paul, Minn./Highland Park HS) was tremendous today. Ryley Teske (JR, Minneapolis, Minn./Bloomington Lutheran HS) was extremely important for us, as he won every ball in the air. David Scheller (FY, Maple Grove, Minn.) was dangerous getting around the end line and served some very good balls through the box. Pascaul was not tested with the exception of the one moment he got knocked to the ground in an aerial scramble. His distribution is getting better, and he looked locked in before the game. If his play keeps improving, we will only be better."
Luke Nelson collected 15 saves in goal for St. John's, with Brian Horst leading the Johnnies with three shots.
